"Oh, he'll never get that current shut off in time!" murmured Mr.Swift, as he started after Mr.Damon.
"Wait! I think I have a plan!" called Mr.Peterson."I think I can save Tom!"He did not waste further time in talk, but, running to a nearby shed, hegot a long ladder that he saw standing under it.With this over his shoulder he retraced his steps to the balloon hangar and placed the ladder against the side.Then he started to climb up.
"What are you going to do?" yelled Tom, leaning over from his seat to watch the elderly fortune-hunter.
"I'm going to cut that wire!" was the answer.
"Don't! If you touch it you'll be shocked to death! I may be able to get out of here.So far I've only had light shocks, but the insulation is burning out of my magneto, and that will soon stop.When it does I can't run the motor, and--""I'm going to cut that wire!" again shouted Mr.Peterson.
"But you can't, without pliers and rubber gloves!" yelled Tom."Keep away, I tell you!"The man on the ladder hesitated.Evidently he had not thought of the necessity of protecting his hands by rubber covering, in order that the electricity might be made harmless.He backed down to the ground.
"I saw a pair of old gloves in the shed!" he cried."I'll get them--they look like rubber.""They are!" cried Tom, remembering now that he had been putting up a new wire that day, and had left his rubber gloves there."But you haven't any pliers!" the lad went."How can you cut wire without them? There's a pair in the shop, but--""Heah dey be! Heah dey be!" cried Eradicate, as he produced a heavy pair from his pocket."I--I couldn't find de can-opener fo' Mrs.Baggert, an' I jest got yo' pliers, Massa Tom.Oh, how glad I is dat I did.Here's de pincers, Massa Peterson."He handed them to the fortune-hunter, who came running back with the rubber gloves.Mr.Damon was no more than half way to the power house, which was quite a distance from the Swift homestead.Meanwhile Tom's airship was slipping more and more, and a thick, pungent smoke now surrounded it, coming from the burning insulation.The sparks and electrical flames were worse than ever.
"Just a moment now, and I'll have you safe!" cried the fortune- hunter, as he again mounted the ladder.Luckily the charged wire was near enoughto be reached by going nearly to the top of the ladder.
Holding the pincers in his rubber-gloved hands, the old man quickly snipped the wire.There was a flash of sparks as the copper conductor was severed, and then the shower of sparks about Tom's airship ceased.
In another second he had turned on full power, the propellers whizzed with the quickness of light, and he rose in the air, off the shed roof, the live wire no longer entangling him.Then he made a short circuit of the work-shop yard, and came to the ground safely a little distance from the balloon hangar.
"Saved! Tom is saved!" cried Mr.Swift, who had seen the act of Mr.Peterson from a distance."He saved my boy's life!""Thanks, Mr.Peterson!" exclaimed the young inventor, as he left his seat and walked up to the fortune-hunter."You certainly did me a good turn then.It was touch and go! I couldn't have stayed there many seconds longer.Next time I'll know better than to fly with a wireless trailer over a live conductor," and he held out his hand to Mr.Peterson.
"I'm glad I could help you, Tom," spoke the other, warmly."I was afraid that if you had to wait until they shut off the power it would be too late.""It would--it would--er--I feel--I--"
Tom's voice trailed off into a whisper and he swayed on his feet."Cotch him!" cried Eradicate."Cotch him! Massa Tom's hurt!" andonly just in time did Mr.Peterson clutch the young inventor in his arms.For Tom, white of face, had fallen back in a dead faint.
