"Pretty good. Oh! but that's a fine machine, Tom!"

"It certainly is," agreed Mr. Jackson.

"It will be when I have it in better trim," admitted the young inventor
modestly.

"By golly!" cried Eradicate, who was grinning almost from ear to ear,
"I's proud oh yo', Massa Tom, an' so will mah mule Boomerang be, when I
tells him. Yes, sah, dat's what he will be--proud ob yo', Massa Tom!"

"Thanks, Rad."

"Well, some folks is satisfied with mighty little under 'em, when they
go up in the air, that's my opinion," said Mrs. Baggert.

"Why, wouldn't you ride in this?" asked Tom of the buxom housekeeper.

"Not if you was to give me ten thousand dollars!" she cried firmly. "Oh,
dear! I think the potatoes are burning!" And she rushed back into the
house.

The next day Tom started to work overhauling the Humming-Bird, and
making some changes. He altered the wing tips slightly, and adjusted the
motor, until in a thrust test it developed nearly half again as much
power as formerly.

"And I'll need it all," declared Tom as he thought of the number of
contestants that had entered the great race.