Steve was so occupied with his final adjustments and anxiety lest he should overlook some important point, that he never thought of danger. He would not have remembered even his goggles1 had not Orissa handed them to him and told him to put them on.
This was the first time Mr. Cumberford had witnessed a performance of the aëroplane, yet he was much less excited than his daughter, who could not withdraw her gaze from the device and was nervously2 attentive3 to every move that the young aviator4 made. Orissa, confident of the result, was most composed of all.
When all was ready Steve took his seat, started the motors, and when they had acquired full speed threw in the clutch. The aëroplane ran less than fifty feet on its wheels before it began to rise, 123when it steadily5 soared into the air and mounted to an elevation6 of several hundred feet. By this time the aviator, who had kept a straight course, was half a dozen miles from the starting point; but now he made a wide circle and, returning, passed over Marston’s pasture at the same high altitude.
The speed of the aircraft was marvelous. Mr. Cumberford declared it was making a mile a minute, which estimate was probably correct. After circling for a while Steve descended7 to a hundred feet in a straight dive, holding the device in perfect control and maintaining at all times an exact balance. At a hundred feet he tested the rudders thoroughly8, proving he could alter his course at will, make sharp turns and circle in a remarkably9 small space. Then, having been in the air twenty-seven minutes by the watch, he descended to the ground, rolled a hundred feet on his running gear and came to a halt a few paces away from the silent, fascinated group of watchers.
Not a hitch10 had occurred. The Kane Aircraft was as perfect a creation as its inventor had planned it to be.
Orissa gave Steve a kiss when he alighted, but said not a word. Sybil impulsively11 seized the aviator’s hands and pressed them until he flushed 124red. Mr. Cumberford lighted a fresh cigarette, nodded approvingly and said:
“All right, Steve. It—interests me.”
“It almost seemed alive,” remarked Steve, with pardonable exuberance12. “Why, I believe it would fly bottom-side-up, if I asked it to!”
“Any changes necessary?” inquired Mr. Cumberford.
“Only one or two, and those unimportant. The steering-wheel is too loose and needs tightening13. The left guy-wires are a bit too taut14 and need to be relieved. Half an hour’s tinkering and the aircraft will be as perfect as I know how to make it.”
As they were wheeling it back to the hangar, Sybil asked:
“Weren’t you frightened, Mr. Kane, when you were so high above the earth?”
“Oh, no; it is far safer a mile up than it is fifty or a hundred feet. There are no dangerous air currents to contend with and the machine glides15 more smoothly16 the more air it has underneath17 it. When I am near the earth I sometimes get a little nervous, but never when I’m far up.”
“But suppose you should fall from that distance?”
“Fall? Oh, but you can’t fall very easily with this sort of a biplane. At any angle it’s a kind of a parachute, you know, for the hinged ends automatically spread themselves against the air pressure. And as for a tumble, you know that a fall of fifty feet would kill one as surely as a fall of several hundred feet. If a fellow can manage to stick to his aëroplane he’s pretty safe.”
It--interests me.
“It—interests me.”
125“It seems such a frail18 thing,” observed Sybil, musingly19.
“Just wooden ribs20 and canvas,” laughed Steve; “but anything stronger would be unnecessary, and therefore foolish.”
“Now, then,” said Mr. Cumberford, when the aircraft rested once more upon its rack, “I’ve something to tell you, Kane. I’ve known it for several days, but refrained from speaking until you had made your trial.”
There was an ominous21 suggestion in the words. Steve turned and looked at him questioningly.
“Any bad news, sir?”
“Time will determine if it’s bad or good. Anyhow, it’s news. Burthon is building an aircraft.”
“An aëroplane?”
“I said an aircraft.”
“But that word designates only my own machine.”
“Burthon is building your machine.”
Steve stared at him, doubtful if he heard aright. Orissa stood motionless, growing white and red by turns. Sybil’s lips curled in a sneer22 as she said:
126“My clever uncle! What a resourceful man he is.”
“I—I don’t believe I understand,” stammered23 Steve.
“It’s simple enough,” replied Cumberford. “Burthon sent to Washington for copies of your plans and specifications25, has built a hangar and workshop over South Pasadena way, and employed a clever mechanic from Cleveland to superintend the construction—already well under way.”
“How do you know this, sir?” inquired Steve, breathless.
“The clever mechanic from Cleveland is my own man, who has been my confidential26 agent for years.”
“And you permit him to do this work!” cried the young man, indignantly.
“To be sure. If Brewster loses the job, some one will get it who is not my agent. It is the only way I can keep accurate account of what Burthon is up to.”
They were all silent for a time while they considered this startling information. By and by Cumberford said:
“Burthon has joined the Aëro Club, has donated a handsome cup for the best endurance flight during the coming meet at Dominguez, and in some 127way has made himself so popular with the officials that he has been appointed a member of the committee on arrangements. I dropped in at the Club yesterday, for I’m a member, and made this discovery. My scheming brother-in-law has some dusky, deep laid plan, and is carrying it out with particular attention to detail.”
“Do you think it concerns us, sir?” asked Orissa, anxiously.
“Yes. It isn’t extraordinary that Burthon should take a fancy to aviation. He is full of fads27 and fancies, and such a thing is liable to interest him. It interests me. But the meat in the nut is the fact that he is building a copy of the Kane Aircraft, merely adding a few details which he will declare are improvements.”
“Can’t we issue an injunction and stop him?” asked Steve.
“I’ve seen a lawyer about that. We can’t prove infringement28 at this stage of the game and it would be folly29 to attempt it. Burthon’s plan is to exhibit his machine first, then keep yours off the field during the meet and afterward30 claim that you are infringing31 upon his rights. He has organized a stock company, keeping most of the stock himself, has entered his device in all the aviation tournaments throughout the country, and is issuing a circular offering the machines for sale. 128I have a hand proof, fresh from the printer, of this circular.”
“Who will be his aviator?” asked Steve, with puckered32 brows.
“His former chauffeur33, Mr. Totham Tyler, is one. He is now looking for another, also.”
Steve drew a long breath.
“What can we do?” he asked in a bewildered tone.
“Checkmate him,” was the composed reply.
“How, sir?”
“Well, we know pretty well all Burthon’s plans. He doesn’t suspect we know a thing; believes he will be able to keep his secret until his aëroplane is ready and he can announce it in the newspapers and create a sensation. He has concocted34 a very pretty trick. Until this date no one has ever heard of the Kane Aircraft. After the Burthon Improved Biplane is exploited and its praise on every tongue, you won’t be able to get even a hearing with your invention, much less a chance to fly it.”
Steve sat down and covered his face with his hands. His attitude was one of despair.
“When will Mr. Burthon’s machine be finished?” asked Orissa, thoughtfully.
“He expects to make the first trial a week from to-morrow. He has kept a force of expert men at 129work, and they haven’t attempted to make the Kane engines, but are using a type that has worked successfully in many biplanes. So his machine has grown into existence very quickly.”
“A week from to-morrow,” repeated Orissa, softly. “And Steve is ready to-day.”
Steve looked up quickly. Sybil laughed at him.
“You silly boy,” said she. “Can’t you understand what Daddy means by a checkmate?”
Steve turned to Mr. Cumberford, who was lighting35 a fresh cigarette.
“If you will place the matter in my hands,” said that gentleman, “I will proceed to put a spoke36 in Burthon’s wheel, so to speak. Heretofore, Steve, I have been a mere24 onlooker37, a—an interested friend, I may say. At this juncture38 you’d better make me your manager.”
“Would you accept the position?” asked the boy.
“Yes; there isn’t much else to interest me just now, and—I hate Burthon.”
“Poor uncle!” sighed Sybil.
“On what terms will you undertake this, sir?” Steve inquired, with anxiety.
“Why, I may have to spend a lot of money; probably will; and my time’s valuable; when I’m not here I’m moping at the Alexandria Hotel; so I propose you give me ten per cent of your profits for the first three years.”
130“That is absurd, sir,” declared Steve. “There will be little profit at first, and ten per cent of it wouldn’t amount to anything.”
Mr. Cumberford smiled—a grim smile that was one of his peculiarities39.
“It’ll do, Steve. I’ll make it pay me well, see if I don’t. But you may add to the demand, if you like, by promising40 to present my daughter the fourth complete Kane Aircraft your factory turns out.”
“The first!” cried Steve.
“No, the fourth. We want the first three to go where they’ll advertise us. Is it a bargain, Mr. Kane?”
Steve grasped his hand.
“Of course, sir,” he replied gratefully. “I’m not sure we can defeat Mr. Burthon’s conspiracy41, but I know you will do all that is possible. And thank you, sir,” he added, again pressing the elder man’s hand.
Orissa took Mr. Cumberford’s hand next. She did not express her gratitude42 in words, but the man understood her and to hide his embarrassment43 began to search for his cigarette case. As for Sybil, she regarded the scene with an amused smile, and there was a queer look in her dark eyes.
“Now,” said Orissa, “let us go in to breakfast. You must all be nearly famished44.”
131“Yes; let us eat, so that I can get back to town,” agreed Mr. Cumberford, cheerfully. “The campaign begins this very morning, and it may take a few people by surprise. Remember, Steve, you’re to stand ready to carry out any plans your manager makes.”
“I understand, sir.”
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1
goggles
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| n.护目镜 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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aviator
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| n.飞行家，飞行员 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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8
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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hitch
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| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
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impulsively
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| adv.冲动地 | |
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exuberance
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| n.丰富；繁荣 | |
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tightening
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| 上紧，固定，紧密 | |
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taut
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| adj.拉紧的，绷紧的，紧张的 | |
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glides
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| n.滑行( glide的名词复数 )；滑音；音渡；过渡音v.滑动( glide的第三人称单数 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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17
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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18
frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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musingly
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| adv.沉思地，冥想地 | |
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ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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specifications
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| n.规格；载明；详述；（产品等的）说明书；说明书( specification的名词复数 )；详细的计划书；载明；详述 | |
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confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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fads
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| n.一时的流行，一时的风尚( fad的名词复数 ) | |
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infringement
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| n.违反；侵权 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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infringing
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| v.违反（规章等）( infringe的现在分词 )；侵犯（某人的权利）；侵害（某人的自由、权益等） | |
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puckered
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| v.（使某物）起褶子或皱纹( pucker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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chauffeur
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| n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车 | |
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concocted
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| v.将（尤指通常不相配合的）成分混合成某物( concoct的过去式和过去分词 )；调制；编造；捏造 | |
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lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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onlooker
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| n.旁观者，观众 | |
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38
juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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39
peculiarities
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| n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪 | |
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40
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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41
conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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42
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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famished
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| adj.饥饿的 | |
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