ERADICATE IN AN AIRSHIP Well, Massa Tom, am yo gwine out in yo flyin machine agin to-day? Yes, Rad, I think I will take a little flight. Perhaps Ill go over to Waterford, and call on Mr. Damon. I havent seen very much of him, since we got back from our hunt after the diamond-makers. Take a run clear ober t Waterfield; eh, Massa Tom? Yes, Rad. Now, if youll help me, Ill get out the Butterfly, and see what trim shes in for a speedy flight. Tom Swift, the young inventor, aided by Eradicate Sampson, the colored helper of the Swift household, walked over toward a small shed. A few minutes later the two had rolled into view, on its three bicycle wheels, a trim little monoplane—one of the speediest craft of the air that had ever skimmed along beneath the clouds. It was built to carry two, and had a very powerful motor. I guess it will work all right, remarked the young inventor, for Torn Swift had not only built this monoplane himself, but was the originator of it, and the craft contained many new features. It sho do look all right, Massa Tom. Look here, Rad, spoke the lad, as a sudden idea came to him, youve never ridden in an airship, have you? No, Massa Tom, an I aint gwine to nuther! Why not? Why not? Case as how it aint healthy; thats why! But I go in them frequently, Eradicate. So does my father. Youve seen us fly often enough, to know that its safe. Why, look at the number of times Mr. Damon and I have gone off on trips in this little Butterfly. Didnt we always come back safely? Yes, dats true, but dere might come a time when yo WOULDNT come back, an den whered Eradicate Sampson be? I axes yo dat—whard I be, Massa Tom? Why, you wouldnt be anywhere if you didnt go, of course, and Tom laughed. But Id like to take you for a little spin in this machine, Rad. I want you to get used to them. Sometime I may need you to help me. Come, now. Suppose you get up on this seat here, and I promise not to go too high until you get used to it. Come on, it will do you good, and think of what all your friends will say when they see you riding in an airship. Dats right, Massa Tom. Dey suah will be monstrous envious ob Eradicate Sampson, dats what dey will. It was clear that the colored man was being pursuaded somewhat against his will. Though he had been engaged by Tom Swift and his father off and on for several years, Eradicate had never shown any desire to take a trip through the air in one of the several craft Tom owned for this purpose. Nor had he ever evinced a longing for a trip under the ocean in a submarine, and as for riding in Toms speedy electric car—Eradicate would as soon have sat down with thirteen at the table, or looked at the moon over the wrong shoulder. But now, somehow, there was a peculiar temptation to take his young employer at his word. Eradicate had seen, many times, the youthful inventor and his friends make trips in the monoplane, as well as in the big biplane and dirigible balloon combined—the RED CLOUD....