"Not on a trip," he said. "I may go for a trial spin with you, but
I've got too important a matter under way to venture on a long trip,"
and he turned away without explaining what it was. But Tom and Mr.
Sharp were soon to learn.



Chapter 7 - Andy Tries a Trick



Without loss of time the young inventor and the aeronaut began to
repair the damage done to the Red Cloud by colliding with the tower.
The most important part to reconstruct was the propeller, and Mr.
Sharp decided to make two, instead of one, in order to have an extra
one in case of future accidents.

Tom's task was to arrange the mechanism so that, hereafter, the rudder
could not become jammed, and so prevent the airship from steering
properly. This the lad accomplished by a simple but effective device
which, when the balloonist saw it, caused him to compliment Tom.

"That's worth patenting," he declared. "I advise you to take out
papers on that."

"It seems such a simple thing," answered the youth. "And I don't see
much use of spending the money for a patent. Airships aren't likely to
be so numerous that I could make anything off that patent."