Tom Swift and His Aerial Warship
try that, too, provided you don't leave me under too long, lead the way--I'm agreeable as far as I'm able, old man."
"Oh, it isn't anything like that," Tom answered with a laugh. "I might as well give you a few hints, so you'll know what I'm driving at. Then I'll take you out and show it to you."
"What is it--air, earth or water?" asked Ned Newton, for he knew his chum's activities led along all three lines.
"This happens to be air."
"A new balloon?"
"Something like that. I call it my aerial warship, though."
"Aerial warship, Tom! That sounds rather dangerous!"
"It will be dangerous, too, if I can get it to work. That's what it's intended for."
"But a warship of the air!" cried Ned. "You can't mean it. A warship carries guns, mortars, bombs, and--"
"Yes, I know," interrupted Tom, "and I appreciate all that when I called my newest craft an aerial warship."
"But," objected Ned, "an aircraft that will carry big guns will be so large that--"

Read online