So he and Mr. Damon climbed into the rear seats of the
odd-looking electric car, while Tom took his place at the
steering wheel.
"Are you all ready?" he asked.
"Let her go!" fired back Mr. Sharp.
"Bless my galvanometer, don't go too fast on the start,"
cautioned Mr. Damon, nervously.
"I'll not," agreed the young inventor. "I want to get it warmed
up before I try any speeding."
He turned on the current. There was a low, humming purr, which
gradually increased to a whine, and the car moved slowly forward.
It rolled along the gravel driveway to the road, Tom listening to
every sound of the machinery, as a mother listens to the
breathing of a child.
"She's moving!" he cried.
"But not much faster than a wheelbarrow," said his father, who
sometimes teased his son.
"Wait!" cried the youth.
Tom turned more current into the motor. The purring and humming
increased, and the car seemed to leap forward. It was in the road
now, and, once assured that the steering apparatus was working
well, Tom suddenly turned on much more speed.
So quickly did the electric auto shoot forward that Mr. Damon
and Mr. Sharp were jerked back against the cushions of the rear
seats.
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