"Good!" cried the young inventor. "Might as well bite off a big
lump while you're at it. So you have a new idea! Well, I have
myself, but I'll listen to yours first. What is it, Mr. Damon?"

"It's a new kind of airship, Tom. I haven't got it all worked
out yet, but I can give you a rough outline. On my way over I got
to thinking about balloons, aeroplanes and the like, and it
occurred to me that the present principles are all wrong."

"So I evolved a new type of machine. I'm going to call it the
Damon Whizzer. Maybe Demon Whizzer would be more appropriate, but
we won't decide on that now. Anyhow, it's going to be a whizzer,
and I want to talk to you about it. There is an entirely new
principle of elevation and propulsion involved in my Whizzer, and
I--"

At that moment there came a crash and clatter of steel and wood
from the garden, out of sight of which Tom and Mr. Damon had
walked while talking. Then followed a jangle of words.

"They're at it again!" cried Tom, as he ran toward the side of
the house. "I guess it's a fight this time!"



CHAPTER V
TOM'S PROJECT


Curious was the sight that met the gaze of Tom Swift and Mr.