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hundred circuits。
Through scores of autos Tom and his friends threaded their way； the
young inventor keeping a watchful eye on the various types of machine
with which he would soon have to compete。
There were many kinds。 Some were larger and some smaller than his。
Many obviously carried very large batteries； but whether they had the
speed or not was another question。 Some； in spurts； seemed to Tom； to be
fully as fast as his own； and he began to have some doubts whether he
would win the race。
〃But I'm not going to give up until the five hundredth mile is finished；〃
he thought； grimly。
They were now in sight of the track； and noted many machines
speeding around it。
〃Go on in and try your car； Tom；〃 urged Mr。 Sharp。
〃Yes； do；〃 added Mr。 Damon。 〃Let's see how it travels。〃
〃I will； after I notify the proper officials that I have arrived；〃 decided
the lad。
The formalities were soon complied with。 Tom received his entry card；
after paying the fee； made affidavit that he had completed the entire trip
from home under his own power； save for the little stretch when the car
was pulled； which did not count against him； and was soon ready to go on
the track。 Only electric cars were allowed there。
As the young inventor guided his latest effort in the machine line onto
the big track there were murmurs of surprise from the throngs。
〃That's a queer machine；〃 said one。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
〃Yes； but it looks speedy；〃 was another's opinion。
〃There's the car for my money；〃 added a third； pointing to a big red
electric which was certainly whizzing around the track。 Tom noted the red
car。 Behind it was a green one； also moving at a fast rate of speed。
〃Those will be my nearest rivals；〃 thought the lad； as he guided his car
onto the track。 A moment later he was sending the auto ahead at moderate
speed； while the other contestants looked at the new arrival； as if trying to
discover whether in it they would have a dangerous competitor。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
CHAPTER XXV
WINNING THE PRIZE
After making two circuits of the track at moderate speed； Tom turned
on more power； deciding to see how the machine would behave on the
turns； going at a fast speed。 As it happened he forged ahead just as the big
red car was coming up behind him。 The driver of it took this for a
challenge and threw his controller handle forward。
〃Come on！〃 he cried to our hero； when even with him。
Tom did not want to decline the invitation； and the impromptu race
was under way。 Soon the green car came rushing up； and for two miles the
three kept almost in line。 It was evident that neither the green nor the red
car drivers wanted to 〃open out；〃 until they saw Tom do so。
He was willing to oblige them； and suddenly increased his speed。 They
did the same； and went ahead of him。 Then Tom turned on a little more
juice and got the lead； but the two men were right after him； and they see…
sawed like this for two more miles。 Then； with a cry the man in the red car；
with a sudden burst of speed； left Tom and the green car behind。 The green
car was soon up to its rival； but Tom decided he would not spurt。
The lad and his friends spent the early part of the night in making a
final inspection of the machinery； finding it in good order。 Then； with his
head filled with visions of the race on the morrow Tom went to bed。 He
had made inquiries； by telephone； of the friends of Miss Nestor； and
learned that she had not arrived。 Tom felt a distinct sense of
disappointment。
The day of the race could not have been better。 It was ideal weather；
and conditions at the track were just right。 Tom was up early； and went
over every inch of his car with a nervous dread that he might find
something the matter。
The final details of the race were completed； and the entrants given
their numbers and places。 Tom drew a good position； not the best； but he
had no reason to complain。 Half an hour before the start he again
telephoned to see if Miss Nestor had arrived； but she had not； and it was
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
with rather gloomy thoughts that the lad entered his car； in which Mr。
Sharp had already taken his place。 Mr。 Damon went to the grandstand to
watch the race。
〃I wanted Mary to see me win；〃 thought our hero； for he had grimly set
his mind on coming in ahead。
There was a great crowd in the grandstand and scattered about the big
track； which took in a large extent of territory。 In spite of its sizefive
miles aroundit seemed solidly packed for the entire length with
autos； containing gay parties who had come to see the electric contest。
There was a band playing gay airs； as Tom guided his machine through the
entrance gate； and onto the track。
The judges made their final inspection。 There were twenty cars entered；
but it was obvious that some of them would not last long； as their battery
capacity was not large enough。 Their owners might have relied on
recharging； but how they could do this under the usual slow system； and
hope to win； Tom could not see。 He hoped to run the entire distance on the
single charge； but； if by some accident part of his current should leak away；
his battery could be charged in a short time； by means of his new system；
to run for a considerable distance； or he could install a new one already
charged； for he had two sets on hand。 Tom glanced over the cars of his
competitors。 They were to be sent away in batches； the affair being a
handicap one； with time allowance for the smaller powered cars。 Tom
noted that his car and the red and the green ones were in the same bunch。
Tom's car was purple。
〃Are you all ready？〃 asked the starter of the first group of races。
〃Ready；〃 was the low…voiced response。
〃Crack！〃 went the pistol； and there followed the hum of the motors as
the current set the mechanism to work。 Forward went the cars； amid the
crash of the band and the cheers of the crowd。 The big race was under
way。
〃Do you feel nervous； Tom？〃 asked Mr。 Sharp。
〃Not a bit；〃 replied the lad。
Around and around the track flew the speedy electrics。 It was evident
that the holding of a meet solely for cars of this character had brought
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
out many new ideas that would be to the benefit of the industry。 Some cars
were 〃freaks〃 and others； like Tom's； showed a distinct advance over
previous styles of construction。
A five…hundred mile race around a track is rather a monotonous affair；
except for what happens； and things very soon began to happen at this
race。
As Tom had expected； several of the machines were forced to
withdraw。 Tire troubles beset some； and others found that they were
hopelessly out of it because of low power； or lack of battery capacity。
Tom determined not to let the red or the green car gain any advantage
over him； and so he watched those two vehicles narrowly。 On the other
hand； the red and the green electrics were evidently afraid of one another
and of Tom。
They all three kept pretty much together for the first thirty miles。 By
this time the race had settled down into a steady grind。 There was some
excitement when the steering gear of one car broke； and it crashed Into the
fence； injuring the driver； but the race went on。
The young inventor was holding his own with his two chief rivals； and
was feeling rather proud of his car； when there came from it a report like a
pistol shot。
〃Blow out！〃 yelled Tom desperately； steering to one of the several
repair stations on the i