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diff --git a/2273.txt b/2273.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b9e57dc --- /dev/null +++ b/2273.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5716 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Tom Swift and his Motor-boat, by Victor Appleton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Tom Swift and his Motor-boat + or, The Rivals of Lake Carlopa + +Author: Victor Appleton + +Posting Date: July 13, 2008 [EBook #2273] +Release Date: August, 2000 +[This file last updated on August 5, 2011] +Last updated: April 2, 2012 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT *** + + + + +Produced by Ronald Benninghoff, Erin Hartshorne and George Joseph. + + + + + + + + + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT + +Or + +The Rivals of Lake Carlopa + + +By + +VICTOR APPLETON + + + + +CONTENTS + + I A Motor-boat Auction + II Some Lively Bidding + III A Timely Warning + IV Tom And Andy Clash + V A Test Of Speed + VI Towing Some Girls + VII A Brush With Andy + VIII Off On A Trip + IX Mr. Swift Is Alarmed + X A Cry For Help + XI A Quick Run + XII Suspicious Characters + XIII Tom In Danger + XIV The ARROW Disappears + XV A Damaging Statement + XVI Still On The Search + XVII "There She Is!" + XVIII The Pursuit + XIX A Quiet Cruise + XX News Of A Robbery + XXI The Balloon On Fire + XXII The Rescue + XXIII Plans For An Airship + XXIV The Mystery Solved + XXV Winning A Race + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A MOTOR-BOAT AUCTION + + +"Where are you going, Tom?" asked Mr. Barton Swift of his son as the +young man was slowly pushing his motor-cycle out of the yard toward the +country road. "You look as though you had some object in view." + +"So I have, dad. I'm going over to Lanton." + +"To Lanton? What for?" + +"I want to have a look at that motor-boat." + +"Which boat is that, Tom? I don't recall your speaking about a boat +over at Lanton. What do you want to look at it for?" + +"It's the motor-boat those fellows had who tried to get away with your +turbine model invention, dad. The one they used at the old General +Harkness mansion, in the woods near the lake, and the same boat that +fellow used when he got away from me the day I was chasing him here." + +"Oh, yes, I remember now. But what is the boat doing over at Lanton?" + +"That's where it belongs. It's the property of Mr. Bently Hastings. +The thieves stole it from him, and when they ran away from the old +mansion, the time Mr. Damon and I raided the place, they left the boat +on the lake. I turned it over to the county authorities, and they +found out it belonged to Mr. Hastings. He has it back now, but I +understand it's somewhat damaged, and he wants to get rid of it. He's +going to sell it at auction to-day, and I thought I'd go over and take +a look at it. You see--" + +"Yes, I see, Tom," exclaimed Mr. Swift with a laugh. "I see what +you're aiming at. You want a motor-boat, and you're going all around +Robin Hood's barn to get at it." + +"No, dad, I only--" + +"Oh, I know you, Tom, my lad!" interrupted the inventor, shaking his +finger at his son, who seemed somewhat confused. "You have a nice +rowing skiff and a sailboat, yet you are hankering for a motor-boat. +Come now, own up. Aren't you?" + +"Well, dad, a motor-boat certainly would go fine on Lake Carlopa. +There's plenty of room to speed her, and I wonder there aren't more of +them. I was going to see what Mr. Hastings' boat would sell for, but I +didn't exactly think of buying it' Still--" + +"But you wouldn't buy a damaged boat, would you?" + +"It isn't much damaged," and in his eagerness the young inventor (for +Tom Swift had taken out several patents) stood his motor-cycle up +against the fence and came closer to his father. "It's only slightly +damaged," he went on. "I can easily fix it. I looked it all over +before I gave it in charge of the authorities, and it's certainly a +fine boat. It's worth nine hundred dollars--or it was when it was new." + +"That's a good deal of money for a boat," and Mr. Swift looked serious, +for though he was well off, he was inclined to be conservative. + +"Oh, I shouldn't think of paying that much. In fact, dad, I really had +no idea of bidding at the auction. I only thought I'd go over and get +an idea of what the boat might sell for. Perhaps some day--" + +Tom paused. Since his father had begun to question him some new plans +had come into the lad's head. He looked at his parent and saw a smile +beginning to work around the corners of Mr. Swift's lips. There was +also a humorous look in the eyes of the older inventor. He understood +boys fairly well, even if he only had one, and he knew Tom perfectly. + +"Would you really like to make a bid on that boat Tom?" he asked. + +"Would I, dad? Well--" The youth did not finish, but his father knew +what he meant. + +"I suppose a motor-boat would be a nice thing to have on Lake Carlopa," +went on Mr. Swift musingly. "You and I could take frequent trips in +it. It isn't like a motor-cycle, only useful for one. What do you +suppose the boat will go for, Tom?" + +"I hardly know. Not a high price, I believe, for motor-boats are so +new on our lake that few persons will take a chance on them. But if +Mr. Hastings is getting another, he will not be so particular about +insisting on a high price for the old one. Then, too, the fact that it +is damaged will help to keep the price down, though I know I can easily +put it in good shape. I would like to make a bid, if you think it's +all right." + +"Well, I guess you may, Tom, if you really want it. You have money of +your own and a motor-boat is not a bad investment. What do you think +ought to be the limit?" + +"Would you consider a hundred and fifty dollars too high?" + +Mr. Swift looked at Tom critically. He was plainly going over several +matters in his mind, and not the least of them was the pluck his son +had shown in getting back some valuable papers and a model from a gang +of thieves. The lad certainly was entitled to some reward, and to +allow him to get a boat might properly be part of it. + +"I think you could safely go as high as two hundred dollars, Tom," said +Mr. Swift at length. "That would be my limit on a damaged boat for it +might be better to pay a little more and get a new one. However, use +your own judgment, but don't go over two hundred. So the thieves who +made so much trouble for me stole that boat from Mr. Hastings, eh?" + +"Yes, and they didn't take much care of it either. They damaged the +engine, but the hull is in good shape. I'm ever so glad you'll let me +bid on it. I'll start right off. The auction is at ten o'clock and I +haven't more than time to get there." + +"Now be careful how you bid. Don't raise your own figures, as I've +sometimes seen women, and men too, do in their excitement. Somebody +may go over your head; and if he does, let them. If you get the boat +I'll be very glad on your account. But don't bring any of Anson +Morse's gang back in it with you. I've seen enough of them." + +"I'll not dad!" cried Tom as he trundled his motor-cycle out of the +gate and into the country road that led to the village of Shopton, +where he lived, and to Lanton, where the auction was to be held. The +young inventor had not gone far before he turned back, leaving his +machine standing on the side path. + +"What's the matter?" asked his father, who had started toward one of +several machine shops on the premises--shops where Mr. Swift and his +son did inventive work. + +"Guess I'd better get a blank check and some money," replied Tom as he +entered the house. "I'll need to pay a deposit if I secure the boat." + +"That's so. Well, good luck," and with his mind busy on a plan for a +new kind of storage battery, the inventor went on to his workroom. Tom +got some cash and his checkbook from a small safe he owned and was soon +speeding over the road to Lanton, his motor-cycle making quite a cloud +of dust. While he is thus hurrying along to the auction I will tell +you something about him. + +Tom Swift, son of Barton Swift, lived with his father and a motherly +housekeeper, Mrs. Baggert, in a large house on the outskirts of the +town of Shopton, in New York State. Mr. Swift had acquired +considerable wealth from his many inventions and patents, but he did +not give up working out his ideas simply because he had plenty of +money. Tom followed in the footsteps of his parent and had already +taken out several patents. + +Shortly before this story opens the youth had become possessed of a +motor-cycle in a peculiar fashion. As told in the first volume of this +series, entitled "Tom Swift and His Motor-cycle," Tom was riding to the +town of Mansburg on an errand for his father one day when he was nearly +run down by a motorcyclist. A little later the same motorcyclist, who +was a Mr. Wakefield Damon, of Waterfield, collided with a tree near +Tom's home and was severely cut and bruised, the machine being broken. +Tom and his father cared for the injured rider, and Mr. Damon, who was +an eccentric individual, was so disheartened by his attempts to ride +the motor-cycle that he sold it to Tom for fifty dollars, though it had +cost much more. + +About the same time that Tom bought the motor-cycle a firm of rascally +lawyers, Smeak & Katch by name, had, in conjunction with several men, +made an attempt to get control of an invention of a turbine motor +perfected by Mr. Swift. The men, who were Ferguson Appleson, Anson +Morse, Wilson Featherton, alias Simpson, and Jake Burke, alias Happy +Harry, who sometimes disguised himself as a tramp, tried several times +to steal the model. + +Their anxiety to get it was due to the fact that they had invested a +large sum in a turbine motor invented by another man, but their motor +would not work and they sought to steal Mr. Swift's. Tom was sent to +Albany on his motor-cycle to deliver the model and some valuable papers +to Mr. Crawford, of the law firm of Reid & Crawford, of Washington, +attorneys for Mr. Swift. Mr. Crawford had an errand in Albany and had +agreed to meet Tom there with the model. + +But, on the way, Tom was attacked by the gang of unscrupulous men and +the model was stolen. He was assaulted and carried far away in an +automobile. In an attempt to capture the gang in a deserted mansion, +in the woods on the shore of Lake Carlopa, Tom was aided by Mr. Damon, +of whom he had purchased the motor-cycle. The men escaped, however, +and nothing could be done to punish them. + +Tom was thinking of the exciting scenes he had passed through about a +month previous as he spun along the road leading to Lanton. + +"I hope I don't meet Happy Harry or any of his gang to-day," mused the +lad as he turned on a little more power to enable his machine to mount +a hill. "I don't believe they'll attend the auction, though. It would +be too risky for them." + +As Tom swung along at a rapid pace he heard, behind him, the puffing of +an automobile, with the muffler cut out. He turned and cast a hasty +glance behind. + +"I hope that ain't Andy Foger or any of his cronies," he said to +himself. "He might try to run me down just for spite. He generally +rushes along with the muffler open so as to attract attention and make +folks think he has a racing car." + +It was not Andy, however, as Tom saw a little later, as a man passed +him in a big touring car. Andy Foger, as my readers will recollect, +was a red-haired, squinty-eyed lad with plenty of money and not much +else. He and his cronies, including Sam Snedecker, nearly ran Tom down +one day, when the latter was on his bicycle, as told in the first +volume of this series. Andy had been off on a tour with his chums +during the time when Tom was having such strenuous adventures and had +recently returned. + +"If I can only get that boat," mused Tom as he swung back into the +middle of the road after the auto had passed him, "I certainly will +have lots of fun. I'll make a week's tour of Lake Carlopa and take dad +and Ned Newton with me." Ned was Tom's most particular chum, but as +young Newton was employed in the Shopton bank, the lad did not have +much time for pleasure. Lake Carlopa was a large body of water, and it +would take a moderately powered boat several days to make a complete +circuit of the shore, so cut up into bays and inlets was it. + +In about an hour Tom was at Lanton, and as he neared the home of Mr. +Hastings, which was on the shore of the lake, he saw quite a throng +going down toward the boathouse. + +"There'll be some lively bidding," thought Tom as he got off his +machine and pushed it ahead of him through the drive and down toward +the river. "I hope they don't go above two hundred dollars, though." + +"Get out the way there!" called a sudden voice, and looking back, Tom +saw that an automobile had crept up silently behind him. In it were +Andy Foger and Sam Snedecker. "Why don't you get out the way?" +petulantly demanded the red-haired lad. + +"Because I don't choose to," replied Tom calmly, knowing that Andy +would never dare to speed up his machine on the slope leading down to +the lake. + +"Go ahead, bump him!" the young inventor heard Sam whisper. + +"You'd better try it, if you want to get the best trouncing you ever +had!" cried Tom hotly. + +"Hu! I s'pose you think you're going to bid on the boat?" sneered Andy. + +"Is there any law against it?" asked Tom. + +"Hu! Well, you'll not get it. I'm going to take that boat," retorted +the squint-eyed bully. "Dad gave me the money to get it." + +"All right," answered Tom non-committally. "Go ahead. It's a free +country." + +He stood his motor-cycle up against a tree and went toward a group of +persons who were surrounding the auctioneer. The time had arrived to +start the sale. As Tom edged in closer he brushed against a man who +looked at him sharply. The lad was just wondering if he had ever seen +the individual before, as there seemed to be something strangely +familiar about him, when the man turned quickly away, as if afraid of +being recognized. + +"That's odd," thought Tom, but he had no further time for speculation, +as the auctioneer was mounting on a soapbox and had begun to address +the gathering. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +SOME LIVELY BIDDING + + +"Attention, people!" cried the auctioneer. "Give me your attention for +a few minutes, and we will proceed with the business in hand. As you +all know, I am about to dispose of a fine motor-boat, the property of +Mr. Bently Hastings. The reason for disposing of it at auction is +known to most of you, but for the benefit of those who do not, I will +briefly state them. The boat was stolen by a gang of thieves and +recovered recently through the efforts of a young man, Thomas Swift, +son of Barton Swift, our fellow-townsman, of Shopton." At that moment +the auctioneer, Jacob Wood, caught sight of Tom in the press, and, +looking directly at the lad, continued: + +"I understand that young Mr. Swift is here to-day, and I hope he +intends to bid on this boat. If he does, the bidding will be lively, +for Tom Swift is a lively young man. I wish I could say that some of +the men who stole the boat were here to-day." + +The auctioneer paused and there were some murmurs from those in the +throng as to why such a wish should be uttered. Tom felt some one +moving near him, and, looking around, he saw the same man with whom he +had come in contact before. The person seemed desirous of getting out +on the edge of the crowd, and Tom felt a return of his vague +suspicions. He looked closely at the fellow, but could trace no +resemblance to any of the men who had so daringly stolen his father's +model. + +"The reason I wish they were here to-day," went on Mr. Wood, "is that +the men did some slight damage to the boat, and if they were here +to-day we would make them pay for it. However, the damage is slight +and can easily be repaired. I mention that, as Mr. Hastings desired me +to. Now we will proceed with the bidding, and I will say that an +opportunity will first be given all to examine the boat. Perhaps Tom +Swift will give us his opinion on the state it is in as we know he is +well qualified to talk about machinery." + +All eyes were turned on Tom, for many knew him. + +"Humph! I guess I know as much about boats and motors as he does," +sneered Andy Foger. "He isn't the only one in this crowd! Why didn't +the auctioneer ask me?" + +"Keep quiet," begged Sam Snedecker. "People are laughing at you, Andy." + +"I don't care if they are," muttered the sandy haired youth. "Tom +Swift needn't think he's everything." + +"If you will come down to the dock," went on the auctioneer, "you can +all see the boat, and I would be glad to have young Mr. Swift give us +the benefit of his advice." + +The throng trooped down to the lake, and, blushing somewhat, Tom told +what was the matter with the motor and how it could be fixed. It was +noticed that there was less enthusiasm over the matter than there had +been, for certainly the engine, rusty and out of order as it was, did +not present an attractive sight. Tom noted that the man, who had acted +so strangely, did not come down to the dock. + +"Guess he can't be much interested in the motor," decided Tom. + +"Now then, if it's all the same to you folks, I'll proceed with the +auction here," went on Mr. Wood. "You can all see the boat from here. +It is, as you see, a regular family launch and will carry twelve +persons comfortably. With a canopy fitted to it a person could cruise +all about the lake and stay out over night, for you could sleep on the +seat cushions. It is twenty-one feet in length and has a +five-and-a-half-foot beam, the design being what is known as a +compromise stern. The motor is a double-cylinder two-cycle one, of ten +horsepower. It has a float-feed carburetor, mechanical oiler, and the +ignition system is the jump-spark--the best for this style of motor. +The boat will make ten miles an hour, with twelve in, and, of course, +more than that with a lighter load. A good deal will depend on the way +the motor is managed. + +"Now, as you know, Mr. Hastings wishes to dispose of the boat partly +because he does not wish to repair it and partly because he has a newer +and larger one. The craft, which is named CARLOPA by the way, cost +originally nine hundred dollars. It could not be purchased new to-day, +in many places, for a thousand. Now what am I offered in its present +condition? Will any one make an offer? Will you give me five hundred +dollars?" + +The auctioneer paused and looked critically at the throng. Several +persons smiled. Tom looked worried. He had no idea that the price +would start so high. + +"Well, perhaps that is a bit stiff," went on Mr. Wood. "Shall we say +four hundred dollars? Come now, I'm sure it's worth four hundred. +Who'll start it at four hundred?" + +No one would, and the auctioneer descended to three hundred, then to +two and finally, as if impatient, he called out: + +"Well, will any one start at fifty dollars?" + +Instantly there were several cries of "I will!" + +"I thought you would," went on the auctioneer. "Now we will get down +to work. I'm offered fifty dollars for this twenty-one foot, ten +horsepower family launch. Will any one make it sixty?" + +"Sixty!" called out Andy Foger in a shrill voice. Several turned to +look at him. + +"I didn't know he was going to bid," thought Tom. "He may go above me. +He's got plenty of money, and, while I have too, I'm not going to pay +too much for a damaged boat." + +"Sixty I'm bid, sixty--sixty!" cried Mr. Wood in a sing-song tone, +"who'll make it seventy?" + +"Sixty-five!" spoke a quiet voice at Tom's elbow, and he turned to see +the mysterious man who had joined the crowd at the edge of the lake. + +"Sixty-five from the gentleman in the white straw hat!" called Mr. Wood +with a smile at his wit, for there were many men wearing white straw +hats, the day being a warm one in June. + +"Here, who's bidding above me?" exclaimed Andy, as if it was against +the law. + +"I guess you'll find a number going ahead of you, my young friend," +remarked the auctioneer. "Will you have the goodness not to interrupt +me, except when you want to bid?" + +"Well, I offered sixty," said the squint-eyed bully, while his crony, +Sam Snedecker, was vainly, pulling at his sleeve. + +"I know you did, and this gentleman went above you. If you want to bid +more you can do so. I'm offered sixty-five, sixty-five I'm offered for +this boat. Will any one make it seventy-five?" + +Mr. Wood looked at Tom, and our hero, thinking it was time for him to +make a bid, offered seventy. "Seventy from Tom Swift!" cried the +auctioneer. "There is a lad who knows a motor-boat from stem to stern, +if those are the right words. I don't know much about boats except what +I'm told, but Tom Swift does. Now, if he bids, you people ought to know +that it's all right. I'm bid seventy--seventy I'm bid. Will any one +make it eighty?" + +"Eighty!" exclaimed Andy Foger after a whispered conference with Sam. +"I know as much about boats as Tom Swift. I'll make it eighty." + +"No side remarks. I'll do most of the talking. You just bid, young +man," remarked Mr. Wood. "I have eighty bid for this boat--eighty +dollars. Why, my friends, I can't understand this. I ought to have it +up to three hundred dollars, at least. But I thank you all the same. We +are coming on. I'm bid eighty--" + +"Ninety!" exclaimed the quiet man at Tom's elbow. He was continually +fingering his upper lip, as though he had a mustache there, but his +face was clean-shaven. He looked around nervously as he spoke. + +"Ninety!" called out the auctioneer. + +"Ninety-five!" returned Tom. Andy Foger scowled at him, but the young +inventor only smiled. It was evident that the bully did not relish +being bid against. He and his crony whispered together again. + +"One hundred!" called Andy, as if no one would dare go above that. + +"I'm offered an even hundred," resumed Mr. Wood. "We are certainly +coming on. A hundred I am bid, a hundred--a hundred--a hundred--" + +"And five," said the strange man hastily, and he seemed to choke as he +uttered the words. + +"Oh, come now; we ought to have at least ten-dollar bids from now on," +suggested Mr. Wood. "Won't you make it a hundred and ten?" The +auctioneer looked directly at the man, who seemed to shrink back into +the crowd. He shook his head, cast a sort of despairing look at the +boat and hurried away. + +"That's queer," murmured Tom. "I guess that was his limit, yet if he +wanted the boat badly that wasn't a high price." + +"Who's going ahead of me?" demanded Andy in loud tones. + +"Keep quiet!" urged Sam. "We may get it yet." + +"Yes, don't make so many remarks," counseled the auctioneer. "I'm bid +a hundred and five. Will any one make it a hundred and twenty-five?" + +Tom wondered why the man had not remained to see if his bid was +accepted, for no one raised it at once, but he hurried off and did not +look back. Tom took a sudden resolve. + +"A hundred and twenty-five!" he called out. + +"That's what I like to hear," exclaimed Mr. Wood. "Now we are doing +business. A hundred and twenty-five from Tom Swift. Will any one +offer me fifty?" + +Andy and Sam seemed to be having some dispute. + +"Let's make him quit right now," suggested Andy in a hoarse whisper. + +"You can't," declared Sam' + +"Yes, I can. I'll go up to my limit right now." + +"And some one will go above you---maybe Tom will," was Sam's retort. + +"I don't believe he can afford to," Andy came back with. "I'm going to +call his bluffs. I believe he's only bidding to make others think he +wants it. I don't believe he'll buy it." + +Tom heard what was said, but did not reply. The auctioneer was calling +monotonously: "I'm bid a hundred and twenty-five--twenty-five. Will +any one make it fifty?" + +"A hundred and fifty!" sang out Andy, and all eyes were directed toward +him. + +"Sixty!" said Tom quietly. + +"Here, you--" began the red-haired lad. "You--" + +"That will do!" exclaimed the auctioneer sternly. "I am offered a +hundred and sixty. Now who will give me an advance? I want to get the +boat up to two hundred, and then the real bidding will begin." + +Tom's heart sank. He hoped it would be some time before a two hundred +dollar offer would be heard. As for Andy Foger, he was almost +speechless with rage. He shook off the restraining arm of Sam, and, +worming his way to the front of the throng, exclaimed: + +"I'll give a hundred and seventy-five dollars for that boat!" + +"Good!" cried the auctioneer. "That's the way to talk. I'm offered a +hundred and seventy-five." + +"Eighty," said Tom quietly, though his heart was beating fast. + +"Well, of all--" began Andy, but Sam Snedecker dragged him back. + +"You haven't got any more money," said the bully's crony. "Better stop +now." + +"I will not! I'm going home for more," declared Andy. "I must have +that boat." + +"It will be sold when you get back," said Sam. + +"Haven't you got any money you can lend me?" inquired the squint-eyed +one, scowling in Tom's direction. "No, not a bit. There, some one +raised Tom's bid." + +At that moment a man in the crowd offered a hundred and eighty-one +dollars. + +"Small amounts thankfully received," said Mr. Wood with a laugh. Then +the bidding became lively, a number making one-dollar advances. + +The price got up to one hundred and ninety-five dollars and there it +hung for several minutes, despite the eloquence of Mr. Wood, who tried +by all his persuasive powers to get a substantial advance. But every +one seemed afraid to bid. As for the young inventor, he was in a +quandary. He could only offer five dollars more, and, if he bid it in +a lump, some one might go to two hundred and five, and he would not get +the boat. He wished he had secured permission from his father to go +higher, yet he knew that as a fair proposition two hundred dollars was +about all the motor-boat in its present condition was worth, at least +to him. Then he made a sudden resolve. He thought he might as well +have the suspense over. + +"Two hundred dollars!" he called boldly. + +"I'm offered two hundred!" repeated Mr. Wood. "That is something like +it. Now who will raise that?" + +There was a moment of silence. Then the auctioneer swung into an +enthusiastic description of the boat. He begged for an advance, but +none was made, though Tom's heart seemed in his throat, so afraid was +he that he would not get the CARLOPA. + +"Two hundred--two hundred!" droned on Mr. Wood. "I am offered two +hundred. Will any of you go any higher?" He paused a moment, and Tom's +heart beat harder than ever. "If not," resumed the speaker, "I will +declare the bidding closed. Are you all done? Once--twice--three +times. Two hundred dollars. Going--going--gone!" He clapped his hands. +"The boat is sold to Thomas Swift for two hundred dollars. If he'll +step up I'll take his money." + +There was a laugh as Tom, blushingly, advanced. He passed Andy Foger, +who had worked his way over near him. + +"You got the boat," sneered the bully, "and I s'pose you think you got +ahead of me." + +"Keep quiet!" begged Sam. + +"I won't!" exclaimed Andy. "He outbid me just out of spite, and I'll +get even with him. You see if I don't!" + +Tom looked Andy Foger straight in the eyes, but did not answer, and the +red-haired youth turned aside, followed by his crony, and started +toward his automobile. + +"I congratulate you on your bargain," said Mr. Wood as Tom proceeded to +make out a check. He gave little thought to the threat Andy Foger had +made, but the time was coming when he was to remember it well. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A TIMELY WARNING + + +"Well, are you satisfied with your bargain, Tom?" asked Mr. Wood when +the formalities about transferring the ownership of the motor-boat had +been completed. + +"Oh, yes, I calculated to pay just what I did." + +"I'm glad you're satisfied, for Mr. Hastings told me to be sure the +purchaser was satisfied. Here he comes now. I guess he wasn't at the +auction." + +An elderly gentleman was approaching Mr. Wood and Tom. Most of the +throng was dispersing, but the young inventor noticed that Andy Foger +and Sam Snedecker stood to one side, regarding him closely. + +"So you got my boat," remarked the former owner of the craft. "I hope +you will be able to fix it up." + +"Oh, I think I shall," answered the new owner of the CARLOPA. "If I +can't, father will help me." + +"Yes, you have an advantage there. Are you going to keep the same +name?" and Mr. Hastings seemed quite interested in what answer the lad +would make. + +"I think not," replied Tom. "It's a good name, but I want something +that tells more what a fast boat it is, for I'm going to make some +changes that will increase the speed." + +"That's a good idea. Call it the Swift." + +"Folks would say I was stuck up if I did that," retorted the youth +quickly. "I think I shall call it the ARROW. That's a good, short +name, and--" + +"It's certainly speedy," interrupted Mr. Hastings. "Well now, since +you're not going to use the name CARLOPA, would you mind if I took it +for my new boat? I have a fancy for it." + +"Not in the least," said Tom. "Don't you want the letters from each +side of the bow to put on your new craft?" + +"It's very kind of you to offer them, and, since you will have no need +for them, I'll be glad to take them off." + +"Come down to my boat," invited Tom, using the word "my" with a proper +pride, "and I'll take off the brass letters. I have a screw driver in +my motor-cycle tool bag." + +As the former and present owners of the ARROW (which is the name by +which I shall hereafter designate Tom's motor-boat) walked down toward +the dock where it was moored the young inventor gave a startled cry. + +"What's the matter?" asked Mr. Hastings. + +"That man! See him at my motor-boat?" cried Tom. He pointed to the +craft in the lake. A man was in the cockpit and seemed to be doing +something to the forward bulkhead, which closed off the compartment +holding the gasoline tank. + +"Who is he?" asked Mr. Hastings, while Tom started on a run toward the +boat. + +"I don't know. Some man who bid on the boat at the auction, but who +didn't go high enough," answered the lad. As he neared the craft the +man sprang out, ran along the lakeshore for a short distance and then +disappeared amid the bushes which bordered the estate of Mr. Hastings. +Tom hurriedly entered the ARROW. + +"Did he do any damage?" asked Mr. Hastings. + +"I guess he didn't have time," responded Tom. "But he was tampering +with the lock on the door of the forward compartment. What's in there?" + +"Nothing but the gasoline tank. I keep the bulkhead sliding door +locked on general principles. I can't imagine what the fellow would +want to open it for. There's nothing of value in there. Perhaps he +isn't right in his head. Was he a tramp?" + +"No, he was well dressed but he seemed very nervous during the auction, +as if he was disappointed not to have secured the boat. Yet what could +he want in that compartment? Have you the key to the lock, Mr. +Hastings?" + +"Yes, it belongs to you now, Mr. Swift," and the former owner handed it +to Tom, who quickly unlocked the compartment. He slid back the door +and peered within, but all he saw was the big galvanized tank. + +"Nothing in there he could want," commented the former owner of the +craft. + +"No," agreed Tom in a low voice. "I don't see what he wanted to open +the door for." But the time was to come, and not far off, when Tom was +to discover quite a mystery connected with the forward compartment of +his boat, and the solution of it was fated to bring him into no little +danger. + +"It certainly is odd," went on Mr. Hastings when, after Tom had secured +the screw driver from his motor-cycle tool bag, he aided the lad in +removing the letters from the bow of the boat "Are you sure you don't +know the man?" + +"No, I never saw him before. At first I thought his voice sounded like +one of the members of the Happy Harry gang, but when I looked squarely +at him I could not see a bit of resemblance. Besides, that gang would +not venture again into this neighborhood." + +"No, I imagine not. Perhaps he was only a curious, meddlesome person. +I have frequently been bothered by such individuals. They want to see +all the working parts of an automobile or motor-boat, and they don't +care what damage they do by investigating." + +Tom did not reply, but he was pretty certain that the man in question +had more of an object than mere curiosity in tampering with the boat. +However, he could discover no solution just then, and he proceeded with +the work of taking off the letters. + +"What are you going to do with your boat, now that you have it?" asked +Mr. Hastings. "Can you run it down to your dock in the condition in +which it is now?" + +"No, I shall have to go back home, get some tools and fix up the motor. +It will take half a day, at least. I will come back this afternoon +and, have the boat at my house by night. That is if I may leave it at +your dock here." + +"Certainly, as long as you like." + +The young inventor had many things to think about as he rode toward +home, and though he was somewhat puzzled over the actions of the +stranger, he forgot about that in anticipating the pleasure he would +have when the motor-boat was in running order. + +"I'll take dad off on a cruise about the lake," he decided. "He needs +a rest, for he's been working hard and worrying over the theft of the +turbine motor model. I'll take Ned Newton for some rides, too, and he +can bring his camera along and get a lot of pictures. Oh, I'll have +some jolly sport this summer!" + +Tom was riding swiftly along a quiet country road and was approaching a +steep hill, which he could not see until he was close to it, owing to a +sharp turn. + +As he was about to swing around it and coast swiftly down the steep +declivity he was startled by hearing a voice calling to him from the +bushes at the side of the road. + +"Hold on, dar! hold on, Mistah Swift!" cried a colored man, suddenly +popping into view. "Doan't go down dat hill." + +"Why, it's Eradicate Sampson!" exclaimed Tom, quickly shutting off the +power and applying the brakes. "What's the matter, Rad? Why shouldn't +I go down that hill?" + +"Beca'se, Mistah Swift, dere's a pow'ful monstrous tree trunk right +across de road at a place whar yo' cain't see it till yo' gits right on +top ob it. Ef yo' done hit dat ar tree on yo' lickity-split machine, +yo' suah would land in kingdom come. Doan't go down dat hill!" + +Tom leaped off his machine and approached the colored man. Eradicate +Sampson did odd jobs in the neighborhood of Shopton, and more than once +Tom had done him favors in repairing his lawn mower or his wood-sawing +machine. In turn Eradicate had given Tom a valuable clue as to the +hiding place of the model thieves. + +"How'd the log get across the road, Rad?" asked Tom. + +"I dunno, Mistah Swift. I see it when I come along wid mah mule, +Boomerang, an' I tried t' git it outer de way, but I couldn't. Den I +left Boomerang an' mah wagon at de foot ob de hill an' I come up heah +t' git a long pole t' pry de log outer de way. I didn't t'ink nobody +would come along, case dis road ain't much trabeled." + +"I took it for a short cut," said the lad. "Come on, let's take a look +at the log." + +Leaving his machine at the top of the slope, the young inventor +accompanied the colored man 'down the hill. At the foot of it, well +hidden from sight of any one who might come riding down, was a big log. +It was all the way across the road. + +"That never fell there," exclaimed Tom in some excitement. "That never +rolled off a load of logs, even if there had been one along, which +there wasn't. That log was put there!" + +"Does yo' t'ink dat, Mistah Swift?" asked Eradicate, his eyes getting +big. + +"I certainly do, and, if you hadn't warned me, I might have been +killed." + +"Oh, I heard yo' lickity-split machine chug-chuggin' along when I were +in de bushes, lookin' for a pryin' pole, an' I hurried out to warn yo. +I knowed I could leave Boomerang safe, 'case he's asleep." + +"I'm glad you did warn me," went on the youth solemnly. Then, as he +went closer to the log, he uttered an exclamation. + +"That has been dragged here by an automobile!" he cried. "It's been +done on purpose to injure some one. Come on, Rad, let's see if we +can't find out who did it." + +Something on the ground caught Tom's eye. He stooped and picked up a +nickle-plated wrench. + +"This may come in handy as evidence," he murmured. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +TOM AND ANDY CLASH + + +Even a casual observer could have told that an auto had had some part +in dragging the log to the place where it blockaded the road. In the +dust were many marks of the big rubber tires and even the imprint of a +rope, which had been used to tow the tree trunk. + +"What fo' yo' t'ink any one put dat log dere?" asked the colored man as +he followed Tom. Boomerang, the mule, so called because Eradicate said +you never could tell what he was going to do, opened his eyes lazily +and closed them again. "I don't know why, Rad, unless they wanted to +wreck an automobile or a wagon. Maybe tramps did it for spite." + +"Maybe some one done it to make yo' hab trouble, Mistah Swift." + +"No, I hardly think so. I don't know of any one who would want to make +trouble for me, and how would they know I was coming this way--" + +Tom suddenly checked himself. The memory of the scene at the auction +came back to him and he recalled what Andy Foger had said about +"'getting even." + +"Which way did dat auto go?" resumed Eradicate. + +"It came from down the road," answered Tom, not completing the sentence +he had left unfinished. "They dragged the log up to the foot of the +hill and left it. Then the auto went down this way." It was +comparatively easy, for a lad of such sharp observation as was Tom, to +trace the movements of the vehicle. + +"Den if it's down heah, maybe we cotch 'em," suggested the colored man. + +The young inventor did not answer at once. He was hurrying along, his +eyes on the telltale marks. He had proceeded some distance from the +place where the log was when he uttered a cry. At the same moment he +hurried from the road toward a thick clump of bushes that were in the +ditch alongside of the highway. Reaching them, he parted the leaves +and called: + +"Here's the auto, Rad!" + +The colored man ran up, his eyes wider open than ever. There, hidden +amid the bushes, was a large touring car. + +"Whose am dat?" asked Eradicate. + +Tom did not answer. He penetrated the underbrush, noting where the +broken branches had been bent upright after the forced entrance of the +car, the better to hide it. The young inventor was, seeking some clew +to discover the owner of the machine. To this end he climbed up in the +tonneau and was looking about when some one burst in through the screen +of bushes and a voice cried: "Here, you get out of my car!" + +"Oh, is it your car, Andy Foger?" asked Tom calmly as he recognized his +squint-eyed rival. "I was just beginning to think it was. Allow me to +return your wrench," and he held out the one he had picked up near the +log. "The next time you drag trees across the road," went on the lad +in the tonneau, facing the angry and dismayed Andy, "I'd advise you to +post a notice at the top of the hill, so persons riding down will not +be injured." + +"Notice--road--hill--logs!" stammered Andy, turning red under his +freckles. + +"That's what I said," replied Tom coolly. + +"I--I didn't have anything to do with putting a log across any road," +mumbled the bully. "I--I've been off toward the creek." + +"Have you?" asked Tom with a peculiar smile. + +"I thought you might have been looking for the wrench you dropped near +the log. You should be more careful and so should Sam Snedecker, who's +hiding outside the bushes," went on our hero, for he had caught sight +of the form of Andy's crony. "I--I told him not to do it!" exclaimed +Sam as he came from his hiding place. + +"Shut up!" exclaimed Andy desperately. + +"Oh, I think I know your secret," continued the young inventor. "You +wanted to get even with me for outbidding you on the motor-boat. You +watched which road I took, and then, in your auto, you came a shorter +way, ahead of me. You hauled the log across the foot of the hill, +hoping, I suppose, that my machine would be broken. But, let me tell +you, it was a risky trick. Not only might I have been killed, but so +would whoever else who happened to drive down the slope over the log, +whether in a wagon or automobile. Fortunately Eradicate discovered it +in time and warned me. I ought to have you arrested, but you're not +worth it. A good thrashing is what such sneaks as you deserve!" + +"You haven't got any evidence against us," sneered Andy confidently, +his old bravado coming back. + +"I have all I want," replied Tom. "You needn't worry. I'm not going +to tell the police. But you've got to do one thing or I'll make you +sorry you ever tried this trick. Eradicate will help me, so don't +think you're going to escape." + +"You get out of my automobile!" demanded Andy. "I'll have you arrested +if you don't." + +"I'll get out because I'm ready to, but not on account of your +threats," retorted Mr. Swift's son. "Here's your wrench. Now I want +you and Sam to start up this machine and haul that log out of the way." + +"S'pose I won't do it?" snapped Andy. + +"Then I'll cause your arrest, besides thrashing you into the bargain! +You can take your choice of removing the log so travelers can pass or +having a good hiding, you and Sam. Eradicate, you take Sam and I'll +tackle Andy." + +"Don't you dare touch me!" cried the bully, but there was a whine in +his tones. + +"You let me alone or I'll tell my father!" added Sam. "I--I didn't +have nothin' to do with it, anyhow. I told Andy it would make trouble, +but he made me help him." + +"Say, what's the matter with you?" demanded Andy indignantly of his +crony. "Do you want to--" + +"I wish I'd never come with you," went on Sam, who was beginning to be +frightened. + +"Come now. Start up that machine and haul the log out of the way," +demanded Tom again. + +"I won't do it!" retorted the red-haired lad impudently. + +"Yes, you will," insisted our hero, and he took a step toward the +bully. They were out of the clump of bushes now and in the roadside +ditch. "You let me alone," almost screamed Andy, and in his baffled +rage he rushed at Tom, aiming a blow. + +The young inventor quickly stepped to one side, and, as the bully +passed him, Tom sent out a neat left-hander. Andy Foger went down in a +heap on the grass. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A TEST OF SPEED + + +Whether Tom or Andy was the most surprised at the happening would be +hard to say. The former had not meant to hit so hard and he certainly +did not intend to knock the squint-eyed youth down. The latter's fall +was due, as much as anything, to his senseless, rushing tactics and to +the fact that he slipped on the green grass. The bully was up in a +moment, however, but he knew better than to try conclusions with Tom +again. Instead he stood out of reach and spluttered: + +"You just wait, Tom Swift! You just wait!" + +"Well, I'm waiting," responded the other calmly. + +"I'll get even with you," went on Andy. "You think you're smart +because you got ahead of me, but I'll get square!" + +"Look here!" burst out the young inventor determinedly, taking a step +toward his antagonist, at which Andy quickly retreated, "I don't want +any more of that talk from you, Andy Foger. That's twice you've made +threats against me to-day. You put that log across the road, and if +you try anything like it for your second attempt I'll make you wish you +hadn't. That applies to you, too, Sam," he added, glancing at the +other lad. + +"I--I ain't gone' to do nothin'," declared Sam. + +"I told Andy not to put that tree--" + +"Keep still, can't you!" shouted the bully. "Come on. We'll get even +with him, that's all," he muttered as he went back into the bushes +where the auto was. Andy cranked up and he and his crony getting into +the car were about to start off. + +"Hold on!" cried Tom. "You'll take that log from across the road or +I'll have you arrested for obstructing traffic, and that's a serious +offense." + +"I'm goin' to take it away!" growled Andy. "Give a fellow a show can't +you?" + +He cast an ugly look at Tom, but the latter only smiled. It was no +easy task for Sam and Andy to pull the log out of the way, as they +could hardly lift it to slip the rope under. But they finally managed +it, and, by the power of the car, hauled it to one side. Then they +speed off. + +"I 'clar t' gracious, dem young fellers am most as mean an' contrary as +mah mule Boomerang am sometimes," observed Eradicate. "Only Boomerang +ain't quite so mean as dat." + +"I should hope not, Rad," observed Tom. "I'm ever so much obliged for +your warning. I guess I'll be getting, home now. Come around next +week; we have some work for you." + +"'Deed an' I will," replied the colored man. "I'll come around an' +eradicate all de dirt on yo' place, Mistah Swift. Yais, sah, I's +Eradicate by name, and dat's my perfession--eradicatin' dirt. Much +obleeged, I'll call around. Giddap, Boomerang!" + +The mule lazily flicked his ears, but did not stir, and Tom, knowing +the process of arousing the animal would take some time, hurried up the +hill to where he had left his motor-cycle. Eradicate was still engaged +on the task of trying to arouse his steed to a sense of its duty when +the young inventor flashed by on his way home. + +"So now you own a broken motor-boat," observed Mr. Swift when Tom had +related the circumstances of the auction. "Well, now you have it, what +are you going to do with it?" + +"Fix it, first of all," replied his son. "It needs considerable +tinkering up, but nothing but what I can do, if you'll help me." + +"Of course I will. Do you think you can get any speed out of it?" + +"Well, I'm not so anxious for speed. I want a good, comfortable boat, +and the ARROW will be that. I've named it, you see. I'm going back to +Lanton this afternoon, take some tools along, and repair it so I can +run the boat over to here. Then I'll get at it and fix it up. I've +got a plan for you, dad." + +"What is it?" asked the inventor, his rather tired face lighting up +with interest. + +"I'm going to take you on a vacation trip." + +"A vacation trip?" + +"Yes, you need a rest. You've been working too hard over that +gyroscope invention." + +"Yes, Tom, I think I have," admitted Mr. Swift. "But I am very much +interested in it, and I think I can get it to work. If I do it will +make a great difference in the control of aeroplanes. It will make +them more stable and able to fly in almost any wind. But I certainly have +puzzled my brains over some features of it. However, I don't quite see +what you mean." + +"You need a rest, dad," said Mr. Swift's son kindly. "I want you to +forget all about patents, invention, machinery and even the gyroscope +for a week or two. When I get my motor-boat in shape I'm going to take +you and Ned Newton up the lake for a cruise. We can camp out, or, if +we had to, we could sleep in the boat. I'm going to put a canopy on it +and arrange some bunks. It will do you good and perhaps new ideas for +your gyroscope may come to you after a rest." + +"Perhaps they will, Tom. I am certainly tired enough to need a +vacation. It's very kind of you to think of me in connection with your +boat. But if you're going to get it this afternoon you'd better start +if you expect to get back by night. I think Mrs. Baggert has dinner +ready." + +After the meal Tom selected a number of tools from his own particular +machine shop and carried them down to the dock on the lake, where his +two small boats were tied. + +"Aren't you going back on your motor-cycle?" asked his father. + +"No, Dad, I'm going to row over to Lanton, and, if I can get the ARROW +fixed, I'll tow my rowboat back." + +"Very well, then you won't be in any danger from Andy Foger. I must +speak to his father about him." + +"No, dad, don't," exclaimed the young inventor quickly. "I can fight +my own battles with Andy. I don't fancy he will bother me again right +away." + +Tom found it more of a task than he had anticipated to get the motor in +shape to run the ARROW back under her own power. The magneto was out +of order and the batteries needed renewing, while the spark coil had +short-circuited and took considerable time to adjust. But by using +some new dry cells, which Mr. Hastings gave him, and cutting out the +magneto, or small dynamo which produces the spark that exploded the +gasoline in the cylinders, Tom soon had a fine, "fat" hot spark from +the auxiliary ignition system. Then, adjusting the timer and throttle +on the engine and seeing that the gasoline tank was filled, the lad +started up his motor. Mr. Hastings helped him, but after a few turns +of the flywheel there were no explosions. Finally, after the +carburetor (which is the device where gasoline is mixed with air to +produce an explosive mixture) had been adjusted, the motor started off +as if it had intended to do so all the while and was only taking its +time about it. + +"The machine doesn't run as smooth as it ought to," commented Mr. +Hastings. "No, it needs a thorough overhauling," agreed the owner of +the ARROW. "I'll get at it to-morrow," and with that he swung out into +the lake, towing his rowboat after him. + +"A motor-boat of my own!" exulted Tom as he twirled the steering wheel +and noted how readily the craft answered her helm. "This is great!" + +He steered down the lake and then, turning around, went up it a mile or +more before heading for his own dock, as he wanted to see how the +engine behaved. + +"With some changes and adjustments I can make this a speedy boat," +thought Tom. "I'll get right at it. I shouldn't wonder if I could +make a good showing against Mr. Hastings' new CARLOPA, though his +boat's got four cylinders and mine has but two." + +The lad was proceeding leisurely along the lakeshore, near his home, +with the motor throttled down to test it at low speed, when he heard +some one shout. Looking toward the bank, Tom saw a man waving his +hands. + +"I wonder what he wants?" thought our hero as he put the wheel over to +send his craft to shore. He heard a moment later, for the man on the +bank cried: + +"I say, my young friend, do you know anything about automobiles? Of +course you do or you wouldn't be running a motor-boat. Bless my very +existence, but I'm in trouble! My machine has stopped on a lonely road +and I can't seem to get it started. I happened to hear your boat and I +came here to hail you. Bless my coat-pockets but I am in trouble! Can +you help me? Bless my soul and gizzard!" + +"Mr. Damon!" exclaimed Tom, shutting off the power, for he was now near +shore. "Of course I'll help you, Mr. Damon," for the young inventor +had recognized the eccentric man of whom he had purchased the +motor-cycle and who had helped him in rounding up the thieves. + +"Why, bless my shoe-laces, if it isn't Tom Swift!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, +who seemed very fond of calling down blessings upon himself or upon +articles of his dress or person. + +"Yes! I'm here," admitted Tom with a laugh. + +"And in a motor-boat, too! Bless my pocketbook, but did that run away +with some one who sold it to you cheap?" + +"No, not exactly," and the lad explained how he had come into +possession of it. By this time he was ashore and had tied the ARROW to +an overhanging tree. Then Tom proceeded to where Mr. Damon had left +his stalled automobile. The eccentric man was wealthy and his +physician had instructed him to ride about in the car for his health. +Tom soon located the trouble. The carburetor had become clogged, and +it was soon in working order again. + +"Well, now that you have a boat, I don't suppose you will be riding +about the country so much," commented Mr. Damon as he got into his car. +"Bless my spark-plug! But if you ever get over to Waterfield, where I +live, come and see me. It's handy to get to by water." + +"I'll come some day," promised the lad. + +"Bless my hat band, but I hope so," went on the eccentric individual as +he prepared to start his car. + +Tom completed the remainder of the trip to his house without incident +and his father came down to the dock to see the motor-boat. He agreed +with his son that it was a bargain and that it could easily be put in +fine shape. + +The youth spent all the next day and part of the following working on +the craft. He overhauled the ignition system, which was the jump-spark +style, cleaned the magneto and adjusted the gasoline and compression +taps so that they fitted better. Then he readjusted the rudder lines, +tightening them on the steering wheel, and looked over the piping from +the gasoline tank. + +The tank was in the forward compartment, and, upon inspecting this, the +lad concluded to change the plan by which the big galvanized iron box +was held in place. He took out the old wooden braces and set them +closer together, putting in a few new ones. + +"The tank will not vibrate so when I'm going at full speed," he +explained to his father. + +"Is that where the strange man was tampering with the lock the day of +the auction?" asked Mr. Swift. + +"Yes, but I don't see what he could want in this compartment, do you +dad?" + +The inventor got into the boat and looked carefully into the rather +dark space where the tank fitted. He went over every inch of it, and, +pointing to one of the thick wooden blocks that supported the tank, +asked: + +"Did you bore that hole in there, Tom?" + +"No, it was there before I touched the braces. But it isn't a hole, or +rather, someone bored it and stopped it up again. It doesn't weaken +the brace any." + +"No, I suppose not. I was just wondering whether that was one of the +new blocks or an old one." + +"Oh, an old one. I'm going to paint them, too, so in case the water +leaks in or the gasoline leaks out the wood won't be affected. A +gasoline tank should vibrate as little as possible, if you don't want +it to leak. I guess I'll paint the whole interior of this compartment +white, then I can see away into the far corners of it." + +"I think that's a good idea," commented Mr. Swift. + +It was four days after his purchase of the boat before Tom was ready to +make a long trip in it. Up to that time he had gone on short spins not +far from the dock, in order to test the engine adjustment. The lad +found it was working very well, but he decided with a new kind of spark +plugs for the two cylinders that he could get more speed out of it. +Finally the forward compartment was painted and a general overhauling +given the hull and Tom was ready to put his boat to a good test. + +"Come on, Ned," he said to his chum early one evening after Mr. Swift +had said he was too tired to go out on a trial run. "We'll see what +the ARROW will do now." + +From the time Tom started up the motor it was evident that the boat was +going through the water at a rapid rate. For a mile or more the two +lads speeded along, enjoying it hugely. Then Ned exclaimed: + +"Something's coming behind us." + +Tom turned his head and looked. Then he called out: + +"It's Mr. Hastings in his new CARLOPA. I wonder if he wants a race?" + +"Guess he'd have it all his own way," suggested Ned. + +"Oh, I don't know. I can get a little more speed out of my boat." + +Tom waited until the former owner of the ARROW was up to him. + +"Want a race?" asked Mr. Hastings good-naturedly. + +"Sure!" agreed Tom, and he shoved the timer ahead to produce quicker +explosions. + +The ARROW seemed to leap forward and for a moment was ahead of the +CARLOPA, but with a motion of his hand to the spark lever Mr. Hastings +also increased his speed. For a moment the two boats were on even +terms and then the larger and newer one forged ahead. Tom had expected +it, but he was a little disappointed. + +"That's doing first rate," complimented Mr. Hastings as he passed them. +"Better than I was ever able to make her do even when she was new, Tom." + +This made the present owner of the ARROW feel somewhat consoled. He +and Ned ran on for a few miles, the CARLOPA in the meanwhile +disappearing from view around a bend. Then Tom and his chum turned +around and made for the Swift dock. + +"She certainly is a dandy!" declared Ned. "I wish I had one like it." + +"Oh, I intend that you shall have plenty of rides in this," went on his +friend. "When you get your vacation, you and dad and I are going on a +tour," and he explained his plan, which, it is needless to say, met +with Ned's hearty approval. + +Just before going to bed, some hours later, Tom decided to go down to +the dock to make sure he had shut off the gasoline cock leading from +the tank of his boat to the motor. It was a calm, early summer night, +with a new moon giving a little light, and the lad went down to the +lake in his slippers. As he neared the boathouse he heard a noise. + +"Water rat," he murmured, "or maybe muskrats. I must set some traps." + +As Tom entered the boathouse he started back in alarm, for a bright +light flashed up, almost in his eyes. + +"Who's here?" he cried, and at that moment someone sprang out of his +motor-boat, scrambled into a rowing craft which the youth could dimly +make out in front of the dock and began to pull away quickly. + +"Hold on there!" cried the young inventor. "Who are you? What do you +want? Come back here!" + +The person in the 'coat returned no answer. With his heart doing beats +over-time Tom lighted a lantern and made a hasty examination of the +ARROW. It did not appear to have been harmed, but a glance showed that +the door of the gasoline compartment had been unlocked and was open. +Tom jumped down into his craft. + +"Some one has been at that compartment again!" he murmured. "I wonder +if it was the same man who acted so suspiciously at the auction? What +can his object be, anyhow?" + +The next moment he uttered an exclamation of startled surprise and +picked up something from the bottom of the boat. It was a bunch of +keys, with a tag attached, bearing the owner's name. + +"Andy Foger!" murmured Tom. "So this is, how he was trying to get +even! Maybe he started to put a hole in the tank or in my boat." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +TOWING SOME GIRLS + + +With a sense of anger mingled with an apprehension lest some harm +should have been done to his craft, the owner of the ARROW went +carefully over it. He could find nothing wrong. The engine was all +right and all that appeared to have been accomplished by the unbidden +visitor was the opening of the locked forward compartment. That this +had been done by one of the many keys on Andy Foger's ring was evident. + +"Now what could have been his object?" mused Tom. "I should think if +he wanted to put a hole in the boat he would have done it amidships, +where the water would have a better chance to come in, or perhaps he +wanted to flood it with gasoline and--" + +The idea of fire was in Tom's mind, and he did not finish his +half-completed thought. + +"That may have been it," he resumed after a hasty examination of the +gasoline tank, to make sure there were no leaks in it. "To get even +with me for outbidding him on the boat, Andy may have wanted to destroy +the ARROW. Well, of all the mean tricks, that's about the limit! But +wait until I see him. I've got evidence against him," and Tom looked +at the key ring. "I could almost have him arrested for this." + +Going outside the boathouse, Tom stood on the edge of the dock and +peered into the darkness. He could hear the faint sound of someone +rowing across the lake, but there was no light. + +"He had one of those electric flash lanterns," decided Tom. "If I +hadn't found his keys, I might have thought it was Happy Harry instead +of Andy." + +The young inventor went back into the house after carefully locking the +boat compartment and detaching from the engine an electrical device, +without which the motor in the ARROW could not be started. + +"That will prevent them from running away with my boat, anyhow," +decided Tom. "And I'll tell Garret Jackson to keep a sharp watch +to-night." Jackson was the engineer at Mr. Swift's workshop. + +Tom told his father of the happening and Mr. Swift was properly +indignant. He wanted to go at once to see Mr. Foger and complain of +Andy's act, but Tom counseled waiting. + +"I'll attend to Andy myself," said the young inventor. "He's getting +desperate, I guess, or he wouldn't try to set the place on fire. But +wait until I show him these keys." + +Bright and early the next morning the owner of the motor-boat was down +to the dock inspecting it. The engineer, who had been on watch part of +the night, reported that there had been no disturbance, and Tom found +everything all right. "I wonder if I'd better go over and accuse Andy +now or wait until I see him and spring this evidence on him?" thought +our hero. Then he decided it would be better to wait. He took the +ARROW out after breakfast, his father going on a short spin with him. + +"But I must go back now and work on my gyroscope invention," said Mr. +Swift when about two hours had been spent on the lake. "I am making +good progress with it." + +"You need a vacation," decided Tom, "I'll be ready to take you and Ned +in about two weeks. He will have two weeks off then and, we'll have +some glorious times together." + +That afternoon Tom put some new style spark plugs in the cylinders of +his motor and found that he had considerably increased the revolutions +of the engine, due to a better explosion being obtained. He also made +some minor adjustments and the next day he went out alone for a long +run. + +Heading up the lake, Tom was soon in sight of a popular excursion +resort that was frequently visited by church and Sunday-school +organizations in the vicinity of Shopton. The lad saw a number of +rowing craft and a small motor-boat circling around opposite the resort +and remarked: "There must be a picnic at the grove to-day. Guess I'll +run up and take a look." + +The lad was soon in the midst of quite a flotilla of rowboats, most of +them manned by pretty girls or in charge of boys who were giving +sisters (their own or some other chap's) a trip on the water. Tom +throttled his boat down to slow speed and looked with pleasure on the +pretty scene. His boat attracted considerable attention, for motor +craft were not numerous on Lake Carlopa. + +As our hero passed a boat, containing three very pretty young ladies, +Tom heard one of them exclaim: + +"There he is now! That's Tom Swift." + +Something in the tones of the voice attracted his attention. He turned +and saw a brown-eyed girl smiling at him. She bowed and asked, +blushing the while: + +"Well, have you caught any more runaway horses lately?" + +"Runaway horses--why--what? Oh, it's Miss Nestor!" exclaimed the lad, +recognizing the young lady whose steed he had frightened one day when +he was on his bicycle. As told in the first volume of this series, the +horse had run away, being alarmed at the flashing of Tom's wheel, and +Miss Mary Nestor, of Mansburg, was in grave danger. + +"So you've given up the bicycle for the motor-boat," went on the young +lady. + +"Yes," replied Tom with a smile, shutting off the power, "and I haven't +had a chance to save any girls since I've had it." + +The two boats had drifted close together, and Miss Nestor introduced +her two companions to Tom. + +"Don't you want to come in and take a ride?" he asked. + +"Is it safe?" asked Jennie Haddon, one of the trio. + +"Of course it is, Jennie, or he wouldn't be out in it," said Miss +Nestor hastily. "Come on, let's get in. I'm just dying for a +motor-boat ride." + +"What will we do with our boat?" asked Katie Carson. + +"Oh, I can tow that," replied the youth. "Get right in and I'll take +you all around the lake." + +"Not too far," stipulated the girl who had figured in the runaway. "We +must be back for lunch, which will be served in about an hour. Our +church and Sunday-school are having a picnic." + +"Maybe Mr. Swift will come and have some lunch with us," suggested Miss +Carson, blushing prettily. + +"Nothing would give me greater pleasure," answered Tom, and then he +laughed at his formal reply, the girls joining in. + +"We'd be glad to have you," added Miss Haddon. "Oh!" she suddenly +screamed, "the boat's tipping over!" + +"Oh, no," Tom hastened to assure her, coming, to the side to help her +in. "It just tilts a bit, with the weight of so many on one side. It +couldn't capsize if it tried." + +In another moment the three were in the roomy cockpit and Tom had made +the empty rowboat fast to the stern. He was about to start up when +from another boat, containing two little girls and two slightly larger +boys, came a plaintive cry: + +"Oh, mister, give us a ride!" + +"Sure!" agreed Tom pleasantly. "Just fasten your boat to the other +rowboat and I'll tow you." + +One of the boys did this, and then, with three pretty girls as his +companions in the ARROW and towing the two boats, Tom started off. + +The girls were very much interested in the craft and asked all sorts of +questions about how the engine operated. Tom explained as clearly as +he could how the gasoline exploded in the cylinders, about the electric +spark and about the propeller. Then, when he had finished, Miss Haddon +remarked naively: + +"Oh, Mr. Swift, you've explained it beautifully, and I'm sure if our +teacher in school made things as clear as you have that I could get +along fine. I understand all about it, except I don't see what makes +the engine go." + +"Oh," said Tom faintly, and he wondering what would be the best remark +to make under the circumstances, when Miss Nestor created a diversion +by looking at her watch and exclaiming: + +"Oh, girls, it's lunch time! We must go ashore. Will you kindly put +about, Mr. Swift--I hope that is the proper term--and--land us--is that +right?" and she looked archly at Tom. + +"That's perfectly right," he admitted with a laugh and a glance into +the girl's brown eyes. "I'll put you ashore at once," and he headed +for a small dock. + +"And come yourself to take lunch with us, added Miss Haddon. + +"I'm afraid I might be in the way," stammered Tom. "I--I have a pretty +good appetite, and--" + +"I suppose you think that girls on a picnic don't take much lunch," +finished Miss Nestor. "But I assure you that we have plenty, and that +you will be very welcome," she added warmly. + +"Yes, and I'd like to have him explain over again how the engine +works," went on Miss Haddon. "I am so interested." + +Tom helped the girls out, receiving their thanks as well as those of +the children in the second boat. But as he walked with the young +ladies through the grove the young inventor registered a mental vow +that he would steer clear of explaining again how a gasoline engine +worked. + +"Now come right over this way to our table," invited Miss Nestor. "I +want you to meet papa and mamma." + +Tom followed her. As he stepped from behind a clump of trees he saw, +standing not far away, a figure that seemed strangely familiar. A +moment later the figure turned and Tom saw Andy Foger confronting him. +At the sight of our hero the bully turned red and walked quickly away, +while Tom's fingers touched the ring of keys in his pocket. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +A BRUSH WITH ANDY + + +So unexpected was his encounter with Andy that the young inventor +hardly knew how to act, especially since he was a guest of the young +ladies. Tom did not want to do or say anything to embarrass them or +make a scene, yet he did want to have a talk, and a very serious talk, +with Andy Foger. + +Miss Nestor must have noticed Tom's sudden start at his glimpse of +Andy, for she asked: "Did you see some one you knew, Mr. Swift?" + +"Yes," replied Tom, "I did--er--that is--" He paused in some confusion. + +"Perhaps you'd like---that is prefer--to go with them instead of taking +lunch with girls who don't know anything about engines?" she persisted. + +"Oh, no indeed," Tom hastened to assure her. "He--that is--the person +I saw wouldn't care to have me lunch with him," and the youth smiled +grimly. + +"Would you like to bring him over to our table?" inquired Miss Carson. +"We have plenty for him." + +"No, I think that would hardly do," continued the lad, who tried not to +smile at the picture of the red-haired and squint-eyed Andy Foger +making one of a party with the girls. The young ladies fortunately had +not noticed the bully, who was out of view by this time. + +Tom was presented to Mr. and Mrs. Nestor, who told him how glad they +were to meet the young man who had been instrumental in saving their +daughter from injury, if not death. Tom was a bit embarrassed, but +bore the praise as well as he could, and he was very glad when a +diversion, in the shape of lunch, occurred. + +After a meal on tables under the trees in the grove Tom took the girls +and some of their friends out in his motor-boat again. They covered +several miles around the lake before returning to the picnic ground. + +As Tom was starting toward home in his boat, wondering what had become +of Andy and trying to think of a reason why the bully should attend +anything as "tame" as a church picnic, the object of his thoughts came +strolling through the trees down to the shore of the lake. The moment +he saw Tom the red-haired lad started back, but the young inventor, +leaping out of his boat, called out: + +"Hold on there, Andy Foger, I want to see you!" and there was menace in +Tom's tone. + +"But, I don't want to see you!" retorted the other sulkily. "I've got +no use for you." + +"No more have I for you," was Tom's quick reply. "But I want to return +you these keys. You dropped them in my boat the other night when you +tried to set it afire. If I ever catch you--" + +"My keys! Your boat! On fire!" gasped Andy, so plainly astonished +that Tom knew his surprise was genuine. + +"Yes, your keys. You were a little too quick for me or I'd have +caught you at it. The next time you pick a lock don't leave your keys +behind you," and he held out the jingling ring. + +Andy Foger advanced slowly. He took the bunch of keys and looked at +the tag. + +"They are mine," he said slowly, as if there was some doubt about it. + +"Of course they are," declared Tom. "I found them where you dropped +them--in my boat." + +"Do you mean over at the auction?" + +"No, I mean down in my boathouse, where you sneaked in the other night +and tried to do some damage. + +"The other night!" cried Andy. "I never was near your boathouse any +night and I never lost my keys there! I lost these the day of the +auction, on Mr. Hastings' ground, and I've been looking for them ever +since." + +"Didn't you sneak in my boathouse the other night and try to do some +mischief? Didn't you drop them then?" + +"No, I didn't," retorted Andy earnestly. "I lost those keys at the +auction, and I can prove it to you. Look, I advertised for them in the +weekly Gazette." + +The red-haired lad pulled a crumpled paper from his pocket and showed +Tom an advertisement offering a reward of two dollars for a bunch of +keys on a ring, supposed to have been lost at the auction on Mr. +Hastings' grounds in Lanton. The finder was to return them to Andy +Foger. + +"Does that look as if I lost the keys in your boathouse?" demanded the +bully sneeringly. "I wouldn't have advertised them that way if I'd been +trying to keep my visit quiet. Besides, I can prove that I was out of +town several nights. I was over to an entertainment in Mansburg one +night and I didn't get home until two o'clock in the morning, because +my machine broke down. Ask Ned Newton. He saw me at the +entertainment." + +Andy's manner was so earnest that Tom could not help believing him. +Then there was the evidence of the advertisement. Clearly the +squint-eyed youth had not been the mysterious visitor to the boathouse +and had not unlocked the forward compartment. But if it was not he, +who could it have been and how did the keys get there? These were +questions which racked Tom's brain. + +"You can ask Ned Newton," repeated Andy. "He'll prove that I couldn't +have been near your place, if you don't believe me." + +"Oh, I believe you all right," answered Tom, for there could be no +doubting Andy's manner, even though he and the young inventor were not +on good terms. "But how did your keys get in my boat?" + +"I don't know, unless you found them, kept them and dropped them +there," was the insolent answer. + +"You know better than that," exclaimed Tom. + +"Well, I owe you a reward of two dollars for giving them back to me," +continued the bully patronizingly. "Here it is," and he hauled out +some bills. + +"I don't want your money!" fired back Tom. + +"But I'd like to know who it was that was in my boat." + +"And I'd like to know who it was took my keys," and Andy stuffed the +money back in his pocket. Tom did not answer. He was puzzling over a +queer matter and he wanted to be alone and think. He turned aside from +the red-haired lad and walked toward his motor-boat. + +"I'll give you a surprise in a few days," Andy called after him, but +Tom did not turn his head nor did he inquire what the surprise might be. + +Mr. Swift was somewhat puzzled when his son related the outcome of the +key incident. He agreed with Tom that some one might have found the +ring and kept it, and that the same person might have been the one whom +Tom had surprised in the boathouse. + +"But it's idle to speculate on it," commented the inventor. "Andy +might have induced some of his chums to act for him in harming your +boat, and the key advertisement might have been only a ruse." + +"I hardly think so," answered his son, shaking his head. "It strikes +me as being very curious, and I'm going to see if I can't get at the +bottom of it." + +But a week or more passed and Tom had no clew. In the meanwhile he was +working away at his motor-boat, installing several improvements. + +One of these was a better pump, which circulated the water around the +cylinders, and another was a new system of lubrication under forced +feed. + +"This ought to give me a little more speed," reasoned Tom, who was not +yet satisfied with his craft. "Guess I'll take it out for a spin." + +He was alone in the ARROW, taking a long course up the lake when, as he +passed a wooded point that concealed from view a sort of bay, he heard +the puffing of another motor-boat. + +"Maybe that's Mr. Hastings," thought Tom. "If I raced with him now, I +think the ARROW could give a better account of herself." + +The young inventor looked at the boat as it came into view. It needed +but a glance to show that it was not the CARLOPA. Then, as it came +nearer, Tom saw a familiar figure in it--a red-haired, squint-eyed chap. + +"Andy Foger!" exclaimed Tom. "He's got a motor-boat! This is the +surprise he spoke of." + +The boat was rapidly approaching him, and he saw that it was painted a +vivid red. Then he could make out the name on the bow, RED STREAK. +Andy was sending the craft toward him at a fast rate. + +"You needn't think you're the only one on this lake who has a gasoline +boat!" called Andy boastfully. "This is my new one and the fastest +thing afloat around here. I can go all around you. Do you want to +race?" + +It was a "dare," and Tom never took such things when he could +reasonably enter a contest. He swung his boat around so as to shoot +alongside of Andy and answered: + +"Yes, I'll race you. Where to?" + +"Down opposite Kolb's dock and back to this point," was the answer. +"I'll give you a start, as my engine has three cylinders. This is a +racing boat." + +"I don't need any start," declared Tom. "I'll race you on even terms. +Go ahead!" + +Both lads adjusted their timers to get more speed. The water began to +curl away from the sharp prows, the motors exploded faster and faster. +The race was on between the ARROW and the RED STREAK. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +OFF ON A TRIP + + +Glancing with critical eyes at the craft of his rival, Tom saw that +Andy Foger had a very fine boat. The young inventor also realized that +if he was to come anywhere near winning the race he would have to get +the utmost speed out of his engine, for the new boat the bully had was +designed primarily for racing, while Tom's was an all-around pleasure +craft, though capable of something in the speed line. + +"I'll be giving you a tow in a few minutes, as soon as my engine gets +warmed up!" sneered Andy. + +"Maybe," said Tom, and then he crouched down to make as little +resistance as possible to the wind. Andy, on the contrary, sat boldly +upright at the auto steering wheel of his boat. + +On rushed the two motor craft, their prows exactly even and the +propellers tossing up a bulge in the water at their sterns. Rapidly +acquiring speed after the two lads had adjusted the timers on their +motors, the boats were racing side by side, seemingly on even terms. + +The RED STREAK had a very sharp prow, designed to cut through the +water. It was of the type known as an automobile launch. That is, the +engine was located forward, under a sort of hood, which had two hinged +covers like a bat's wings. The steering-wheel shaft went through the +forward bulkhead, slantingly, like the wheel of an auto, and was +arranged with gasoline and sparking levers on the center post in a +similar manner. At the right of the wheel was a reversing lever, by +which the propeller blades could be set at neutral, or arranged so as +to drive the boat backward. Altogether the RED STREAK was a very fine +boat and had cost considerably more than had Tom's, even when the +latter was new. All these things the young owner of the ARROW thought +of as he steered his craft over the course. + +"I hardly think I can win," Tom remarked to himself in a whisper. "His +boat is too speedy for this one. I have a chance, though, for his +engine is new, and I don't believe he understands it as well as I do +mine. Then, too, I am sure I have a better ignition system." + +But if Tom had any immediate hopes of defeating Andy, they were doomed +to disappointment, for about two minutes after the race started the RED +STREAK forged slowly ahead. + +"Come on!" cried the red-haired lad. "I thought you wanted a race." + +"I do," answered the young inventor. "We're a long way from the dock +yet, and we've got to come back." + +"You'll be out of it by the time I get to the dock," declared Andy. + +Indeed it began to look so, for the auto boat was now a full length +ahead of Tom's craft and there was open water between them. But our +hero knew a thing or two about racing, though he had not long been a +motor-boat owner. He adjusted the automatic oiler on the cylinders to +give more lubrication, as he intended to get more speed out of his +engine. Then he opened the gasoline cock a trifle more and set his +timer forward a few notches to get an earlier spark. He was not going +to use the maximum speed just yet, but he first wanted to see how the +motor of the ARROW would behave under these conditions. To his delight +he saw his boat slowly creeping up on Andy's. The latter, with a +glance over his shoulder, saw it too, and he advanced his spark. His +craft forged ahead, but the rate of increase was not equal to Tom's. +"If I can keep up to him I suppose I ought to be glad," thought the +young inventor, "for his boat is away ahead of mine in rating." + +Through the water the sharp bows cut. There were only a few witnesses +to the race, but those who were out in boats saw a pretty sight as the +two speedy craft came on toward the dock, which was the turning point. + +Andy's boat reached it first, and swung about in a wide circle for the +return. Tom decided it was time to make his boat do its best, so he +set the timer at the limit, and the spark, coming more quickly, +increased the explosions. + +Up shot the ARROW and, straightening out after the turn, Tom's craft +crept along until it lapped the stern of the RED STREAK. Andy looked +back in dismay. Then he tried to get more speed out of his engine. He +did cause the screw to revolve a little faster, and Tom noted that he +was again being left behind. Then one of those things, which may +happen at any time to a gasoline motor, happened to Andy's. It began +to miss explosions. At first it was only occasionally, then the misses +became more frequent. + +The owner of the RED STREAK with one hand on the steering wheel, tried +with the other to adjust the motor to get rid of the trouble, but he +only made it worse. Andy's boat began to fall back and Tom's to creep +up. Frantically Andy worked the gasoline and sparking levers, but +without avail. At last one cylinder went completely out of service. + +The two boats were now on even terms and were racing along side by side +toward the wooded, point, which marked the finish. + +"I'll beat you yet!" exclaimed Andy fiercely. + +"Better hurry up!" retorted Tom. + +But the young inventor was not to have it all his own way. With a +freakishness equal to that with which it had ceased to explode the dead +cylinder came to life again, and the RED STREAK shot ahead. Once more +Andy's boat had the lead of a length and the finish of the race was +close at hand. The squint-eyed lad turned and shouted: "I told you I'd +beat you! Want a tow now?" + +It began to look as though Tom would need it, but he still had +something in reserve. One of the improvements he had put in the ARROW +was a new auxiliary ignition system. This he now decided to use. + +With a quick motion Tom threw over the switch that put it into +operation. A hotter, "fatter" spark was at once produced, and +adjusting his gasoline cock so that a little more of the fluid would be +drawn in, making a "richer" mixture, the owner of the ARROW saw the +craft shoot forward as if, like some weary runner, new life had been +infused. + +In vain did Andy frantically try to get more speed out of his motor. +He cut out the muffler, and the explosions sounded loudly over the +lake. But it was no use. A minute later the ARROW, which had slowly +forged ahead, crossed the bows of the RED STREAK opposite the finishing +point, and Tom had won the race. + +"Well, was that fair?" our hero called to Andy, who had quickly shut +off some of his power as he saw his rival's daring trick. "Did I beat +you fair?" + +"You wouldn't have beaten me if my engine hadn't gone back on me," +grumbled Andy, chagrin showing on his face. "Wait until my motor runs +smoother and I'll give you a big handicap and beat you. My boat's +faster than yours. It ought to be. It cost fifteen hundred dollars +and it's a racer." + +"I guess it doesn't like racing," commented Tom as he swung the prow of +his craft down the lake toward his home. But he knew there was some +truth in what Andy had said. The RED STREAK was a more speedy boat, +and, with proper handling, could have beaten the ARROW. That was where +Tom's superior knowledge came in useful. "Just you wait, I'll beat you +yet," called Andy, after the young inventor, but the latter made no +answer. He was satisfied. + +Mr. Swift was much interested that night in his son's account of the +race. + +"I had no idea yours was such a speedy boat," he said. + +"Well, it wasn't originally," admitted Tom, "but the improvements I put +on it made it so. But, dad, when are we going on our tour? You look +more worn out than I've seen you in some time, not excepting when the +turbine model was stolen. Are you worrying over your gyroscope +invention?" + +"Somewhat, Tom. I can't seem to hit on just what I want. It's a +difficult problem." + +"Then I tell you what let's do, dad. Let's drop everything in the +inventive line and go off on a vacation. I'll take you up the lake in +my boat and you can spend a week at the Lakeview Hotel at Sandport. It +will do you good." + +"What will you do, Tom?" + +"Oh, Ned Newton and I will cruise about and we'll take you along any +time you want to go. We're going to camp out nights or sleep in the +boat if it rains. I've ordered a canopy with side curtains. Ned and I +don't care for the hotel life in the summer. Will you go?" + +Mr. Swift considered a moment. He did need a rest, for he had been +working hard and his brain was weary with thinking of many problems. +His son's program sounded very attractive. + +"I think I will accept," said the inventor with a smile. "When can you +start, Tom?" + +"In about four days. Ned Newton will get his vacation then and I'll +have the canopy on. I'll start to work at it to-morrow. Then we'll go +on a trip." + +Sandport was a summer resort at the extreme southern end of Lake +Carlopa, and Mr. Swift at once wrote to the Lakeview Hotel there to +engage a room for himself. In the meanwhile Tom began to put the +canopy on his boat and arrange for the trip, which would take nearly a +whole day. Ned Newton was delighted with the prospect of a camping +tour and helped Tom to get ready. They took a small tent and plenty of +supplies, with some food. They did not need to carry many rations, as +the shores of the lake were lined with towns and villages where food +could be procured. + +Finally all was ready for the trip and the night before the start Ned +Newton stayed at Tom's house so as to be in readiness for going off +early in the morning. The day was all that could be desired, Tom +noted, as he and his chum hurried down to the dock before breakfast to +put their blankets in the boat. As the young inventor entered the +craft he uttered an exclamation. + +"What's the matter?" asked Ned. + +"I was sure I locked the sliding door of that forward compartment," was +the reply. "Now it's open." He looked inside the space occupied by +the gasoline tank and cried out: "One of the braces is gone! There's +been some one at my boat in the night and they tried to damage her." + +"Much harm done?" asked Ned anxiously. + +"No, none at all, to speak of," replied Tom. "I can easily put a new +block under the tank. In fact, I don't really need all I have. But +why should any one take one out, and who did it? That's what I want to +know." + +The two lads looked carefully about the dock and boat for a sign of the +missing block or any clews that might show who had been tampering with +the ARROW, but they could find nothing. + +"Maybe the block fell out," suggested Ned. + +"It couldn't," replied Tom. "It was one of the new ones I put in +myself and it was nailed fast. You can see where it's been pried +loose. I can't understand it," and Tom thought rapidly of several +mysterious occurrences of late in which the strange man at the auction +and the person he had surprised one night in the boathouse had a part. + +"Well, it needn't delay our trip," resumed the young inventor. "Maybe +there's a hoodoo around here, and it will do us good to get away a few +days. Come on, we'll have breakfast, get dad and start." + +A little later the ARROW was puffing away up the lake in the direction +of Sandport. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +MR. SWIFT IS ALARMED + + +"Don't you feel better already, dad?" asked Tom that noon as they +stopped under a leaning, overhanging tree for lunch on the shore of the +lake. "I'll leave it to Ned if you don't look more contented and less +worried." + +"I believe he does," agreed the other lad. "Well, I must say I +certainly have enjoyed the outing so far," admitted the inventor with a +smile. "And I haven't been bothering about my gyroscope. I think I'll +take another sandwich, Tom, and a few more olives." + +"That's the way to talk!" cried the son. "Your appetite is improving, +too. If Mrs. Baggert could see you she'd say so." + +"Oh, yes, Mrs. Baggert. I do hope she and Garret will look after the +house and shops well," said Mr. Swift, and the old, worried look came +like a shadow over his face. + +"Now don't be thinking of that, dad," advised Tom, "Of course +everything will be all right. Do you think some of those model thieves +will return and try to get some of your other inventions?" + +"I don't know, Tom. Those men were unscrupulous scoundrels, and you +can never tell what they might do to revenge themselves on us for +defeating their plans." + +"Well, I guess Garret and Mrs. Baggert will look out for them," +remarked his son. "Don't worry." + +"Yes, it's bad for the digestion," added Ned. "If you don't mind, Tom, +I'll have some more coffee and another sandwich myself." + +"Nothing the matter with your appetite, either," commented the young +inventor as he passed the coffee pot and the plate. + +They were soon on their way again, the ARROW making good time up the +lake. Tom was at the engine, making several minor adjustments to it, +while Ned steered. Mr. Swift reclined on one of the cushioned seats +under the shade of the canopy. The young owner of the ARROW looked +over the stretch of water from time to time for a possible sight of +Andy Foger, but the RED STREAK was not to be seen. The Lakeview Hotel +was reached late that afternoon and the boat was tied up to the dock, +while Tom and Ned accompanied Mr. Swift to see him comfortably +established in his room. + +"Won't you stay to supper with me?" invited the inventor to his son and +the latter's chum. "Or do you want to start right in on camp life?" + +"I guess we'll stay to supper and remain at the hotel to-night," +decided Tom. "We got here a little later than I expected, and Ned and +I hardly have time to go very far and establish a temporary camp. +We'll live a life of luxurious ease to-night and begin to be +'wanderlusters' and get back to nature to-morrow." + +In the morning Tom and his chum, full of enthusiasm for the pleasures +before them, started off, promising to come back to the hotel in a few +days to see how Mr. Swift felt. The trip had already done the man good +and his face wore a brighter look. + +Tom and Ned, in the speedy ARROW, cruised along the lakeshores all that +morning. At noon they went ashore, made a temporary camp and arranged +to spend the night there in the tent. After this was erected they got +out their fishing tackle and passed the afternoon at that sport, having +such good luck that they provided their own supper without having to +depend on canned stuff. + +They lived this life for three days, making a new camp each night, +being favored with good weather, so that they did not have to sleep in +the boat to keep dry. On the afternoon of the third day Tom, with a +critical glance at the sky, remarked: + +"I shouldn't be surprised if it rained to-morrow, Ned." + +"Me either. It does look sort of hazy, and the wind is in a bad +quarter." + +"Then what do you say to heading for the hotel? I fancy dad will be glad +to see us." + +"That suits me. We can start camp life again after the storm passes." + +They started for Sandport that afternoon. When within about two miles +of the hotel dock Tom saw, just ahead of them, a small motor-boat. Ned +observed it too and called out: + +"S'pose that's Andy looking for another race?" + +"No, the boat's too small for his. We'll put over that way and see who +it is." + +The other craft did not appear to be moving very rapidly and the ARROW +was soon overhauling it. As the two chums came nearer they could hear +the puffing of the motor. Tom listened with critical ears. + +"That machine isn't working right," he remarked to his chum. + +At that moment there sounded a loud explosion from the other boat and +at the same time there came over the water a shrill cry of alarm. +"That's a girl in that boat!" exclaimed Ned. "Maybe she's hurt." + +"No, the motor only backfired," observed Tom. "But we'll go over and +see if we can help her. Perhaps she doesn't understand it. Girls +don't know much about machinery." + +A little later the ARROW shot up alongside the other craft, which had +come to a stop. The two lads could see a girl bending over the motor, +twirling the flywheel and trying to get it started. "Can I help you?" +asked Tom, shutting off the power from his craft. + +The young lady glanced up. Her face was red and she seemed ill at +ease. At the sight of the young inventor she uttered an exclamation of +relief. + +"Why, Mr. Swift!" she cried. "Oh, I'm in such trouble. I can't make +the machine work, and I'm afraid it's broken; it exploded." + +"Miss Nestor!" blurted out Tom, more surprised evidently to see his +acquaintance of the runaway again than she was at beholding him. "I +didn't know you ran a motor-boat," he added. "I don't," said she +simply and helplessly. "That's the trouble, it won't run." + +"How comes it that you are up here?" went on Tom. + +"I am stopping with friends, who have a cottage near the Lakeview +Hotel. They have a motor-boat and I got Dick Blythe--he's the owner of +this--to show me how to run it. I thought I knew, and I started out a +little while ago. At first it went beautifully, but a few minutes ago +it blew up, or--or something dreadful happened." + +"Nothing very dreadful, I guess," Tom assured her. "I think I can fix +it." He got into the other boat and soon saw what the trouble was. +The carburetor had gotten out of adjustment and the gasoline was not +feeding properly. The young inventor soon had it in order, and, +testing the motor, found that it worked perfectly. + +"Oh, I can't thank you enough," cried Miss Nestor with a flash from her +brown eyes that made Tom's heart beat double time. "I was afraid I had +damaged the boat, and I knew Dick, who is a sort of second cousin of +mine, would never forgive me." + +"There's no harm done," Tom assured her. "But you had better keep near +us on your way back, that is, if you are going back." + +"Oh, indeed I am. I was frightened when I found I'd come so far away +from shore, and then, when that explosion took place--well, you can +imagine how I felt. Indeed I will keep near you. Are you stopping +near here? If you are, I wish you'd come and see me, you and Mr. +Newton," she added, for Tom had introduced his chum. + +"I'll be very glad to," answered our hero, and he told how he happened +to be in the neighborhood. "I'll give you a few lessons in managing a +boat, if you like," he added. + +"Oh, will you? That will be lovely! I won't tell Dick about it, and +I'll surprise him some day by showing him how well I can run his boat." + +"Good idea," commented Tom. + +He started the motor for Miss Nestor, having stopped it after his first +test, and then, with the DOT, which was the name of the small boat Miss +Nestor was in, following the larger ARROW, the run back to the hotel +was made. The young lady turned off near the Lakeview dock to go to +the cottage where she was stopping and the lads tied up at the hotel +boathouse. + +"Yes, we are in for a storm," remarked Tom as he and his chum walked up +toward the hotel. "I wonder how dad is? I hope the outing is doing +him good." + +"There he comes now," observed Ned, and, looking up, Tom saw his father +approaching. The young inventor was at once struck by the expression +on his parent's face. Mr. Swift looked worried and Tom anxiously +hastened forward to meet him. + +"What's the matter dad?" he asked as cheerfully as he could. "Have you +been figuring over that gyroscope problem again, against my express +orders?" and he laughed a little. + +"No, Tom, it's not the gyroscope that's worrying me." + +"What is it then?" + +"Those scoundrels are around again, Tom!" and Mr. Swift looked +apprehensively about him. + +"You mean the men who stole the turbine model?" + +"Yes. I was walking in the woods near the hotel yesterday and I saw +Anson Morse. He did not see me, for I turned aside as quickly as I had +a glimpse of him. He was talking to another man." + +"What sort of a man?" + +"Well, an ordinary enough individual, but I noticed that he had +tattooed on the little finger of his left hand a blue ring." + +"Happy Harry, the tramp!" exclaimed Tom. "What can he and Morse be +doing here?" + +"I don't know, Tom, but I'm worried. I wish I was back home. I'm +afraid something may happen to some of my inventions. I want to go +back to Shopton, Tom." + +"Nonsense, dad. Don't worry just because you saw some of your former +enemies. Everything is all right at home. Mrs. Baggert and Garret +Jackson will look after things. But, if you like, I, can find out for +you how matters are." + +"How, Tom?" + +"By taking a run down there in my motor-boat. I can do it to-morrow +and get back by night, if I start early. Then you will not worry." + +"All right, Tom; I wish you would. Come up to my room and we will talk +it over. I'd rather leave you go than telephone, as I don't like to +talk of my business over the wire if I can avoid it." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A CRY FOR HELP + + +"Now, dad, tell me all about it," requested Tom when he and Ned were in +Mr. Swift's apartment at the hotel, safe from the rain that was +falling. "How did you happen to see Anson Morse and Happy Harry?" My +old readers will doubtless remember that the latter was the disguised +tramp who was so vindictive toward Tom, while Morse was the man who +endeavored to sneak in Mr. Swift's shop and steal a valuable invention. + +"Well, Tom," proceeded the inventor, "there isn't much to tell. I was +out walking in the woods yesterday, and when I was behind a clump of +bushes I heard voices. I looked out and there I saw the two men." + +"At first I thought they were trailing me, but I saw that they had not +seen me, and I didn't see how they could know I was in the +neighborhood. So I quietly made my way back to the hotel." + +"Could you hear what they were saying?" + +"Not all, but they seemed angry over something. The man with the blue +ring on his finger asked the other man whether Murdock had been heard +from." + +"Who is Murdock?" + +"I don't know, unless he is another member of the gang or unless that +is an assumed name." + +"It may be that. What else did you hear?" + +"The man we know as Morse replied that he hadn't heard from him, but +that he suspected Murdock was playing a double game. Then the +tramp--Happy Harry--asked this question: 'Have you any clew to the +sparkler?' And Morse answered: 'No, but I think Murdock has hid it +somewhere and is trying to get away with it without giving us our +share.' Then the two men walked away, and I came back to the hotel," +finished Mr. Swift. + +"Sparkler," murmured Tom. "I wonder what that can be?" + +"That's a slang word for diamonds," suggested Ned. + +"So it is. In that case, dad, I think we have nothing to worry about. +Those fellows must be going to commit a diamond robbery or perhaps it +has already taken place." + +The inventor seemed relieved at this theory of his son. His face +brightened and he said: "If they are going to commit a robbery, Tom, we +ought to notify the police." + +"But if they said that 'Murdock,' whoever he is, had the sparkler and +was trying to get away with it without giving them their share, +wouldn't that indicate that the robbery had already taken place?" asked +Ned. + +"That's so," agreed Tom. "But it won't do any harm to tell the hotel +detective that suspicious characters are around, no matter if the robbery +has been committed. Then he can be on the lookout. But I don't think we +have anything to worry about, dad. Still, if you like, I'll take a run +down to the house to see that everything is all right, though I'm sure +it will be found that we have nothing to be alarmed over." + +"Well, I will be more relieved if you do," said the inventor, "However, +suppose we have a good supper now and you boys can stay at the hotel +to-night. Then you and Ned can start off early in the morning." + +"All right," agreed Tom, but there was a thoughtful look on his face +and he appeared to be planning something that needed careful attention +to details. + +After supper that night Tom took his chum to one side and asked: "Would +you mind very much if you didn't make the trip to Shopton with me?" + +"No, Tom, of course not, if it will help you any. Do you want me to +stay here?" + +"I think it will be a good plan. I don't like to leave dad alone if +those scoundrels are around. Of course he's able to look after +himself, but sometimes he gets absent minded from thinking too much +about his inventions." + +"Of course I'll stay here at the hotel. This is just as good a +vacation as I could wish." + +"Oh, I don't mean all the while. Just a day or so--until I come back. +I may be here again by to-morrow night and find that my father is +needlessly alarmed. Then something may have happened at home and I +would be delayed. If I should be, I'd feel better to know that you +were here." + +"Then I'll stay, and if I see any of those men--" + +"You'd better steer clear of them," advised Tom quickly. "They are +dangerous customers." + +"All right. Then I'll go over and give Miss Nestor lessons on how to +run a motor-boat," was the smiling response. "I fancy, with what she +and I know, we can make out pretty well." + +"Hold on there!" cried Tom gaily. "No trespassing, you know." + +"Oh, I'll just say I'm your agent," promised Ned with a grin. "You +can't object to that." + +"No, I s'pose not. Well, do the best you can. She is certainly a nice +girl." + +"Yes, but you do seem to turn up at most opportune times. Luck is +certainly with you where she is concerned. First you save her in a +runaway--" + +"After I start the runaway," interrupted Tom. + +"Then you take her for a ride in your motor-boat, and, lastly, you come +to her relief when she is stalled in the middle of the lake. Oh you +certainly are a lucky dog!" + +"Never mind, I'm giving you a show. Now let's get to bed early, as I +want to get a good start." + +Tom awoke to find a nasty, drizzling rainstorm in progress, and the +lake was almost hidden from view by a swirling fog. Still he was not +to be daunted from his trip to Shopton by the weather, and, after a +substantial breakfast, he bade his father and Ned good-by and started +off in the ARROW. + +The canopy he had provided was an efficient protection against the +rain, a celluloid window in the forward hanging curtains affording him +a view so that he could steer. + +Through the mist puffed the boat, the motor being throttled down to +medium speed, for Tom was not as familiar with the lake as he would +like to have been, and he did not want to run aground or into another +craft. + +He was thinking over what his father had told him about the presence of +the men and vainly wondering what might be their reference to the +"sparkler." His thoughts also dwelt on the curious removal of the +bracing block from under the gasoline tank of his boat. + +"I shouldn't be surprised but what Andy Foger did that," he mused. +"Some day he and I will have a grand fight, and then maybe he'll let me +alone. Well, I've got other things to think about now. The hotel +detective can keep a lookout for the men around the hotel, after the +warning I gave him, and I'll see that all is right at home." + +The fog lifted somewhat and Tom put on more speed. As he was steering +the boat along near shore he heard, off to the woods at his right, the +report of a gun. It came so suddenly that he jumped involuntarily. A +moment later there sounded, plainly through the damp air, a cry for +help. + +"Some one's hurt--shot!" cried the youth aloud. + +He turned the boat in toward the bank. As he shut off the power from +the motor he heard the cry again: + +"Help! Help! Help!" + +"I must go ashore!" he exclaimed. "Probably some one is badly wounded +by a gun." + +He paused for a moment as the fear came to him that it might be some of +the patent thieves. Then, dismissing that idea as the ARROW's prow +touched the gravel, Tom sprang out, drew the boat up a little way, +fastened the rope to a tree and hurried off into the dripping woods in +the direction of the voice that was calling for aid. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A QUICK RUN + + +"Where are you?" cried Tom. "Are you hurt? Where are you?" + +Uttering these words after he had hurried into the woods a short +distance, the young inventor paused for an answer. At first he could +hear nothing but the drip of water from the branches of the trees; +then, as he listened intently, he became aware of a groan not far away. + +"Where are you?" cried the lad again. "I've come to help you. Where +are you?" + +He had lost what little fear he had had at first, that it might be one +of the unscrupulous gang, and came to the conclusion that he might +safely offer to help. + +Once more the groan sounded and it was followed by a faint voice +speaking: + +"Here I am, under the big oak tree. Oh, whoever you are, help me +quickly! I'm bleeding to death!" + +With the sound of the voice to guide him, Tom swung around. The appeal +had come from the left and, looking in that direction, he saw, through +the mist, a large oak tree. Leaping over the underbrush toward it he +caught sight of the wounded man at its foot. Beside him lay a gun and +there was a wound in the man's right arm. + +"Who shot you?" cried Tom, hurrying to the side of the man. "Was it +some of those patent thieves?" Then, realizing that a stranger would +know nothing of the men who had stolen the model, Tom prepared to +change the form of his question. But, before he had an opportunity to +do this, the man, whose eyes were closed, opened them, and, as he got a +better sight of his face, Tom uttered a cry. + +"Why, it's Mr. Duncan!" exclaimed the lad. He had recognized the rich +hunter, whom he had first met in the woods that spring shortly after +Happy Harry, the tramp, had disabled Tom's motor-cycle. "Mr. Duncan," +the young inventor repeated, "how did you get shot?" + +"Is that you, Tom Swift?" asked the gunner. "Help me, please. I must +stop this bleeding in my arm. I'll tell you about it afterward. Wind +something around it tight--your handkerchief will do." + +The man sighed weakly and his eyes closed again. The lad saw the blood +spurting from an ugly wound. + +"I must make a tourniquet," the youth exclaimed. "That will check the +bleeding until I can get him to a doctor." + +With Tom to think was to act. He took out his knife and cut off Mr. +Duncan's sleeves below the injury, slashing through coat and shirts. +Then he saw that part of a charge of shot had torn away some of the +large muscular development of the upper arm. The hunter seemed to have +fainted and the youth worked quickly. Tying his handkerchief above the +wound and inserting a small stone under the cloth, so that the pebble +would press on the main artery, Tom put a stick in the handkerchief and +began to twist it. This had the effect of tightening the linen around +the arm, and in a few seconds the lad was glad to see that the blood +had stopped spurting out with every beat of the heart. Giving the +tourniquet a few more twists to completely stop the flow of blood, Tom +fastened the stick-lever in place by a bit of string. + +"That's--that's better," murmured Mr. Duncan. "Now if you can go for a +doctor--" He had to pause for breath. + +"I'll not leave you here alone while I go for a doctor," declared Tom. +"I have my motor-boat on the lake. Do you think I could get you down +to it and take you home?" + +"Perhaps--maybe. I'll be stronger in a moment, now that the bleeding +has stopped. But not--not home--frighten my wife. Take me to the +sanitarium if you can--sanitarium up the lake, a few miles from here." + +The unfortunate man, who had tried to sit upright, had to lean back +against the tree again. Tom understood what he meant in spite of the +broken sentences. Mr. Duncan did not want to be taken home in the +condition he was then in, for fear of alarming his wife. He wanted to +be taken to the sanitarium, and Tom knew where this was, a well-known +resort for the treatment of various diseases and surgical cases. It +was about five miles away and on the opposite shore of the lake. + +"Water--a drink!" murmured Mr. Duncan. + +Seeing that his patient would be all right, for a few minutes at least, +Tom hurried to his motor-boat, got a cup and, filling it with water +from a jug he carried, he hastened with it to the hunter. The fluid +revived the man wonderfully and now that the bleeding had almost +completely stopped, Mr. Duncan was much stronger. + +"Do you think you can get to the boat, if I help you?" asked Tom. + +"Yes, I believe so. To think of meeting you again, and under such +circumstances! It is providential." + +"Did someone shoot you?" inquired Tom, who could not get out of his +head the notion of the men who had once assaulted him. + +"No, I shot myself," answered Mr. Duncan as he got to his feet with +Tom's help. "I was out with my gun, practicing just as I was that day +when I met you in the woods. I stooped down to crawl under a bush and +the weapon went off, the muzzle being close against my arm. I can't +understand how it happened. I fell down and called for help. Then I +guess I must have fainted, but I came to when I heard you talking to +me. I shouldn't have come out to-day as it is so wet, but I had some +new shot shells I wished to try in order to test them before the +hunting season. But if I can get to the sanitarium, I will be well +taken care of. I know one of the doctors there." + +With Tom leading him and acting as a sort of support, the journey to +the motor-boat was slowly made. Making as comfortable a bed as +possible out of the seat cushions, Tom assisted Mr. Duncan to it, and +then starting the engine he sent his boat out from shore at half speed, +as the fog was still thick and he did not want to run upon a rock. + +"Do you know where the sanitarium is?" asked the wounded hunter. + +"About," answered Tom a little doubtfully, "but I'm afraid it's going +to be hard to locate it in this fog." + +"There's a compass in my coat pocket," said Mr. Duncan. "Take it out +and I'll tell you how to steer. You ought to carry a compass if you're +going to be a sailor." + +Tom was beginning to think so himself and wondered that he had not +thought of it before. He found the one the hunter had, and placing it +on the seat near him, he carefully listened to the wounded man's +directions. Tom easily comprehended and soon had the boat headed in +the proper direction. After that it was comparatively easy to keep on +the right course, even in the fog. + +But there was another danger, however, and this was that he might run +into another boat. True, there were not many on Lake Carlopa, but +there were some, and one of the few motor-boats might be out in spite +of the bad weather. + +"Guess I'll not run at full speed," decided Tom. "I wouldn't like to +crash into the RED STREAK. We'd both sink." + +So he did not run his motor at the limit and sat at the steering-wheel, +peering ahead into the fog for the first sight of another craft. + +He turned to look at Mr. Duncan and was alarmed at the pallor of his +face. The man's eyes were closed and he was breathing in a peculiar +manner. + +"Mr. Duncan," cried Tom, "are you worse?" + +There was no answer. Leaving the helm for a moment, Tom bent over the +injured hunter. A glance showed him what had happened. The tourniquet +had slipped and the wound was bleeding again. Tom quickly shut off the +motor, so that he might give his whole attention to the work of +tightening the handkerchief. But something seemed to be wrong. No +matter how tightly he twisted the stick the blood did not stop flowing. +The lad was frightened. In a short time the man would bleed to death. + +"I've got to get him to the sanitarium in record time!" exclaimed Tom. +"Fog or no fog, I've got to run at full speed! I've got to chance it!" + +Making the bandage as tight as he could and fastening it in place, the +young inventor sprang to the motor and set it in motion. Then he went +to the wheel. In a few minutes the ARROW was speeding through the +water as it had never done before, except when it had raced the RED +STREAK. "If I hit anything--good-by!" thought Tom grimly. His hands +were tense on the rim of the steering-wheel and he was ready in an +instant to reverse the motor as he sat there straining his eyes to see +through the curtain of mist that hung over the lake. Now and then he +glanced at the compass, to keep on the right course, and from time to +time he looked at Mr. Duncan. The hunter was still unconscious. + +How Tom accomplished that trip he hardly remembered afterward. Through +the fog he shot, expecting any moment to crash into some other boat. +He did pass a rowing craft in which sat a lone fisherman. The lad was +upon him in an instant, but a turn of the wheel sent the ARROW safely +past, and the startled fisherman, whose frail craft was set to rocking +violently by the swell from the motor-boat, sent an objecting cry +through the fog after Tom. But the youth did not reply. On and on he +raced, getting the last atom of power from his motor. + +He feared Mr. Duncan would be dead when he arrived, but when he saw the +dock of the sanitarium looming up out of the mist and shut off the +power to slowly run up to it, he placed his hand on the wounded man's +heart and found it still beating. + +"He's alive, anyhow," thought the youth, and then his craft bumped up +against the bulkhead and a man in the boathouse on the dock was sent on +the run for a physician. + +Mr. Duncan was quickly taken up to the sanitarium on a stretcher and +Tom followed. + +"You must have made a record run," observed one of the physicians a +little while afterward, when Tom was telling of his trip while waiting +in the office to hear the report on the hunter's condition. + +"I guess I did," muttered the young inventor "only I didn't think so at +the time. It seemed as if we were only crawling along." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +SUSPICIOUS CHARACTERS + + +Under the skill of the physicians at the lake sanitarium Mr. Duncan's +wound was quickly attended to and the bleeding, which Tom had partly +checked, was completely stopped. Some medicines having been +administered, the hunter regained a little of his strength, and, about +an hour after he had been brought to the resort, he was able to see +Tom, who, at his request, was admitted to his room. The young inventor +found Mr. Duncan propped up in bed, with his injured arm bandaged. + +"Is the injury a bad one?" asked Tom, entering softly. + +"Not as bad as I feared," replied the hunter, while a trained nurse +placed a chair for the lad at the bedside. "If it had not been for +you, though, I'm afraid to think of what might have happened." + +"I am glad I chanced to be going past when you called," replied the lad. + +"Well, you can imagine how thankful I am," resumed Mr. Duncan. "I'll +thank you more properly at another time. I hope I didn't delay you on +your trip." + +"It's not of much consequence," responded the youth. "I was only going +to see that everything was all right at our house," and he explained +about his father being at the hotel and mentioned his worriment. "I +will go on now unless I can do something more for you," resumed Tom. +"I will probably stay at our house all night to-night instead of trying +to get back to Sandport." + +"I'd like to send word to my wife about what has happened," said the +hunter. "If it would not be too much out of your way, I'd appreciate +it if you could stop at my home in Waterford and tell her, so she will +not be alarmed at my absence." + +"I'll do it," replied our hero. "There is no special need of my +hurrying. I have brought your gun and compass up from the boat. They +are down in the office." + +"Will you do me a favor?" asked Mr. Duncan quickly. + +"Of course." + +"Then please accept that gun and compass with my compliments. They are +both of excellent make, and I don't think I shall use that gun this +season. My wife would be superstitious about it. As for the compass, +you'll need one in this fog, and I can recommend mine as being +accurate." + +"Oh, I couldn't think of taking them," expostulated Tom, but his eyes +sparkled in anticipation, for he had been wishing for a gun such as Mr. +Duncan owned. He also needed a compass. + +"If you don't take them I shall feel very much offended," the hunter +said, "and the nurse here will tell you that sick persons ought to be +humored. Hadn't they?" and he appealed to the pretty young woman, who +was smiling at Tom. + +"That's perfectly true," she said, showing her white, even teeth. "I +think, Mr. Swift, I shall have to order you to take them." + +"All right," agreed Tom, "only it's too much for what I did." + +"It isn't half enough," remarked Mr. Duncan solemnly. "Just explain +matters to my wife, if you will, and tell her the doctor says I can be +out in about a week. But I'm not going hunting or practicing shots +again." + +A little later Tom, with the compass before him to guide him on his +course through the fog, was speeding his boat toward Waterford. Now +and then he glanced at the fine shotgun which he had so unexpectedly +acquired. + +"This will come in handy this fall!" he exclaimed. "I'll go hunting +quail and partridge as well as wild ducks. This compass is just what I +need, too." + +Mrs. Duncan was at first very much alarmed when Tom started to tell her +of the accident, but she soon calmed down as the lad went more into +details and stated how comparatively out of danger her husband now was. +The hunter's wife insisted that Tom remain to dinner, and as he had +made up his mind he would have to devote two days instead of one to the +trip to his house, he consented. + +The fog lifted that afternoon, and Tom, rejoicing in the sunlight, +which drove away the storm clouds, speeded up the ARROW until she was +skimming over the lake like a shaft from a bow. + +"This is something like," he exclaimed. "I'll soon be at home, find +everything all right and telephone to dad. Then I'll sleep in my own +room and start back in the morning." + +When Tom was within a few miles of his own boathouse he heard behind +him the "put-put" of a motor craft. Turning, he saw the RED STREAK +fairly flying along at some distance from him. + +"Andy certainly is getting the speed out of her now," he remarked. +"He'd beat me if we were racing, but the trouble with his boat and +engine is that he can't always depend on it. I guess he doesn't +understand how to run it. I wonder if he'll offer to race now?" + +But the red-haired owner of the auto boat evidently did not intend to +offer Tom a race. The RED STREAK went on down the lake, passing the +ARROW about half a mile away. Then the young inventor saw that Andy +had two other lads in the boat with him. + +"Sam Snedecker and Pete Bailey, I guess," he murmured. "Well, they're +a trio pretty much alike. The farther off they are the better I like +it." + +Tom once more gave his attention to his own boat. He was going at a +fair speed, but not the limit, and he counted on reaching home in about +a half hour. Suddenly, when he was just congratulating himself on the +smooth-running qualities of his motor, which had not missed an +explosion, the machinery stopped. + +"Hello!" exclaimed the young inventor in some alarm. "What's up now?" + +He quickly shut off the gasoline and went back to the motor. Now there +are so many things that may happen to a gasoline engine that it would +be difficult to name them all offhand, and Tom, who had not had very +much experience, was at a loss to find what had stopped his machinery. +He tried the spark and found that by touching the wire to the top of +the cylinder, when the proper connection was, made, that he had a hot, +"fat one." The compression seemed all right and the supply pipe from +the gasoline tank was in perfect order. Still the motor would not go. +No explosion resulted when he turned the flywheel over, not even when +he primed the cylinder by putting a little gasoline in through the +cocks on the cylinder heads. + +"That's funny," he remarked to himself as he rested from his labors and +contemplated the "dead" motor. "First time it has gone back on me." +The boat was drifting down the lake, and, at the sound of another motor +craft approaching, Tom looked up. He saw the RED STREAK, containing +Andy Foger and his cronies. They had observed the young inventor's +plight. + +"Want a tow?" sneered Andy. + +"What'll you take for your second-hand boat that won't run?" asked Pete +Bailey. + +"Better get out of the way or you might be run down," added Sam +Snedecker. + +Tom was too angry and chagrined to reply, and the RED STREAK swept on. + +"I'll make her go, if it takes all night!" declared Tom energetically. +Once more he tried to start the motor. It coughed and sighed, as if in +protest, but would not explode. Then Tom cried: "The spark plug! +That's where the trouble is, I'll wager. Why didn't I think of it +before?" + +It was the work of but a minute to unscrew the spark plugs from the +tops of the cylinders. He found that both had such accumulations of +carbon on them that no spark could ever have reached the mixture of +gasoline and air. + +"I'll put new ones in," he decided, for he carried a few spare plugs +for emergencies. Inside of five minutes, with the new plugs in place, +the motor was running better than before. + +"Now for home!" cried Tom, "and if I meet Andy Foger I'll race him +this time." + +But the RED STREAK was not in sight, and, a little later, Tom had run +the ARROW into the boathouse, locked the door and was on his way up to +the mansion. + +"I suppose Mrs. Baggert and Garret will be surprised to see me," he +remarked. "Maybe they'll think we don't trust them, by coming back in +this fashion to see that everything is safe. But then, I suppose, dad +is naturally nervous about some of his valuable machinery and +inventions. I think I'll find everything all right, though." + +As Tom went up the main path and swung off to a side one, which was a +short cut to the house, he saw in the dusk, for it was now early +evening, a movement in the bushes that lined the walk. + +"Hello, Garret!" exclaimed the lad, taking it for granted it was the +engineer employed by Mr. Swift. + +There was no reply, and Tom, with a sudden suspicion, sprang toward the +bushes. The shrubbery was more violently agitated and, as the lad +reached the screen of foliage, he saw a man spring up from the ground +and take to his heels. + +"Here! Who are you? What do you want?" yelled Tom. + +Hardly had he spoken when from behind a big apple tree another man +sprung. It was light enough so that the lad could see his face, and a +glimpse of it caused him to cry out: + +"Happy Harry, the tramp!" + +Before he could call again the two men had disappeared. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +TOM IN DANGER + + +"Garret! Garret Jackson!" cried Tom as he struggled through the hedge +of bushes and ran after the men. "Where are you, Garret? Come on and +help me chase these men!" + +But there came no answer to Tom's hail. He could not hear the sound of +the retreating footsteps of the men now and concluded that they had +made their escape. Still he would not give up, but dashed on, slipping +and stumbling, now and then colliding with a tree. + +"What can they be doing here?" thought Tom in great anxiety. "Are they +after some more of dad's inventions because they didn't get his turbine +motor?" + +"Hello! Who's there? Who are you?" called a voice suddenly. + +"Oh, Garret! Where have you been?" asked the young inventor, +recognizing the tones of his father's keeper. "I've been calling you. +Some of those scoundrels are around again!" + +"Why if it isn't Tom!" ejaculated the engineer. "However in the world +did you get here? I thought you were at Sandport." + +"I'll explain later, Garret. Just now I want to catch those men, if I +can." + +"Which men?" + +"Happy Harry and another one. I saw them hiding down by the orchard +path. Come on, they're right ahead of us." + +But though they hunted as well as they were able to in the +fast-gathering darkness, there was no trace of the intruders. They had +to give up, and Tom, after going to the boathouse to see that the ARROW +was all right, returned to the house, where he told the engineer and +housekeeper what had brought him back and how he had surprised the two +men. + +"Is everything all right, Garret?" he concluded. "Dad is nervous and +frightened. I must telephone him at the hotel to-night and let him +know, for I promised to come back. I can't, though, until to-morrow." + +"Everything is all right as far as I know," answered Jackson. "I've +kept a careful watch and the burglar alarm has been in working order. +Mrs. Baggert and I haven't been disturbed a single night since you went +away. It's curious that the men should be here the very night you come +back. Maybe they followed you." + +"I hardly think so, for they didn't know I was coming." + +"You can't tell what those fellows know," commented the engineer. +"But, anyhow, I don't suppose they could have gotten here from Sandport +as soon as you did." + +"Oh, yes they could, in their automobile," declared Tom. "But I don't +believe they knew I was coming. They knew we were away, however, and +thought it would be a good time to steal something, I guess. Are you +sure nothing has been taken?" + +"Perfectly sure, but you and I will take a look around the shop." + +They made a hasty examination, but found nothing disturbed and no signs +that anyone had tried to break in. + +"I think I'll telephone dad that everything is all right," decided Tom. +"It is as far as his inventions are concerned, and if I tell about +seeing the men it will only worry him. I can explain that part better +when I see him. But when I go back, Garret, you will have to be on +your guard, since those men are in the neighborhood." + +"I will, Tom. Don't worry." + +Mr. Swift was soon informed by his son over the telephone that nothing +in the shops had been disturbed, and the inventor received the news +with evident satisfaction. He requested Tom to come back to the hotel +in the morning, in order that the three of them might go for a ride +about the lake in the afternoon, and Tom decided to make an early start. + +The night passed without incident, though Tom, who kept the gun Mr. +Duncan had given him in readiness for use, got up several times, +thinking he heard suspicious noises. After an early breakfast, and +having once more cautioned the engineer and housekeeper to be on their +guard, Tom started back in the ARROW. + +As it would not be much out of his way, the young inventor decided to +cut across the lake and stop at the sanitarium, that he might inquire +about Mr. Duncan. He thought he could speed the ARROW up sufficiently +to make up for any time he might lose, and, with this in mind, he +headed out toward the middle of Lake Carlopa. The engine was working +splendidly with the new spark plugs, and Tom was wondering if there was +any possible method of getting more revolutions out of the motor. He +had about come to the conclusion that a new propeller might answer his +purpose when he heard the noise of an approaching boat. He looked up +quickly and exclaimed: + +"Andy Foger again, and Pete and Sam are with him. It's a wonder he +wouldn't go off on a trip instead of cruising around so near home. +Guess he's afraid he'll get stuck." + +Idly Tom watched the RED STREAK. It was cutting through the water at a +fast rate, throwing up curling foam on either side of the sharp bow. +"He seems to be heading this way," mused Tom. "Well, I'm not going to +race with him to-day." + +Nearer and nearer came the speedy craft, straight for the ARROW. The +young inventor shifted his helm in order to get out of Andy's course, +but to his surprise he saw that the red haired lad changed the +direction of his own boat. + +"Guess he wants to see how close he can come to me," thought our hero. +"Maybe he wants to show how fast he's going." + +The RED STREAK was now so close that the features of the occupants +could easily be distinguished. There were grins on the faces of Andy +and his cronies. + +"Get out of the way or we'll run you down!" cried the bully. "We've +got the right of way." + +"Don't you try anything like that!" shouted Tom in some alarm, not that +he was afraid of Andy, but the RED STREAK was getting dangerously near, +and he knew Andy was not a skillful helmsman. The auto-boat was now +headed directly at the ARROW and coming on speedily. Andy was bending +over the wheel and Tom had begun to turn his, in order to get well out +of the way of the insolent, squint-eyed lad and his friends. + +Suddenly Andy uttered a cry and leaped up. + +"Look out! Look out!" he yelled. "My steering gear has broken! I +can't change my course. Look out!" + +The RED STREAK was bearing right down on Tom's boat. + +"Shut off your power! Reverse!" shouted Tom. + +Andy seemed confused and did not know what to do. Sam Snedecker sprang +to the side of his crony, but he knew even less about a motor-boat. It +looked as if Tom would be run down, and he was in great danger. + +But the young inventor did not lose his head. He put his wheel hard +over and then, leaping to his motor, sent it full speed forward. Not a +moment too soon had he acted, for an instant later the other boat shot +past the stern of the ARROW, hitting it a severe but glancing blow. +Tom's boat quivered from end to end and he quickly shut off the power. +By this time Andy had succeeded in slowing down his craft. The young +inventor hastily looked over the side of the ARROW. One of the rudder +fastenings had been torn loose. + +"What do you mean by running me down?" shouted Tom angrily. + +"I--I didn't do it on purpose," returned Andy contritely. "I was +seeing how near I could come to you when my steering gear broke. I +hope I haven't damaged you." + +"My rudder's broken," went on Tom "and I've got to put back to repair +it. I ought to have you arrested for this!" + +"I'll pay for the damage," replied Andy, and he was so frightened that +he was white, in spite of his tan and freckles. + +"That won't do me any good now," retorted Tom. "It will delay me a +couple of hours. If you try any tricks like that again, I'll complain +to the authorities and you won't be allowed to run a boat on this lake." + +Andy knew that his rival was in the right and did not reply. The bully +and his cronies busied themselves over the broken steering gear, and +the young inventor, finding that he could make a shift to get back to +his boathouse, turned his craft around and headed for there, in order +to repair the damage. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE ARROW DISAPPEARS + + +Paying no heed to the occupants of the bully's boat, who, by reason of +their daring, had been responsible for his accident that might have +resulted seriously, Tom was soon at his dock. He had it conveniently +arranged for hoisting craft out of the water to repair them, and in a +few minutes the stern of the ARROW was elevated so that he could get at +the rudder. + +"Well, it's not as bad as I thought," he remarked when, with critical +eye, he had noted the damage done. "I can fix it in about an hour if +Garret helps me." + +Going up to the house to get some tools and to tell the engineer that +he had returned, Tom looked out over the lake and saw Andy's boat +moving slowly off. + +"They've got her fixed up in some kind of shape," he murmured. "It's a +shame for a chump like Andy to have a good boat like that. He'll spoil +it in one season. He's getting altogether too reckless. First thing +he knows, he and I will have a clash and I'll pay back some of the old +scores." + +Mr. Jackson was much surprised to see the young inventor home again so +soon, as was also Mrs. Baggert. Tom explained what had happened, and +he and the engineer went to work repairing the damage done by the RED +STREAK. As the owner of the ARROW had anticipated, the work did not +take long, and, shortly before dinner time, the boat was ready to +resume the interrupted trip to Sandport. + +"Better stay and have lunch," urged Mrs. Baggert. "You can hardly get +to the hotel by night, anyhow, and maybe it would be better not to +start until to-morrow." + +"No, I must get back to-night or dad would be worried," declared Tom. +"I've been gone longer now than I calculated on. But I will have +dinner here, and, if necessary, I can do the last half of the trip +after dark. I know the way now and I have a compass and a good +searchlight." + +The ARROW was let down into the water again and tied outside the +boathouse ready for a quick start. The dinner Mrs. Baggert provided +was so good that Tom lingered over it longer than he meant to, and he +asked for a second apple dumpling with hard sauce on. So it was with a +very comfortable feeling indeed and with an almost forgiving spirit +toward Andy Foger that our hero started down the path to the lake. + +"Now for a quick run to Sandport," he said aloud. "I hope I shan't see +any more of those men and that dad hasn't been bothered by them. His +suspicions about the house weren't altogether unfounded, for I did see +the tramp and some one else sneaking around, but I don't believe +they'll come back now." + +Tom swung around the path that led to the dock. As he came in sight of +the water, he stared as if he could not believe what he saw, or, +rather, what he did not see. For there was no craft tied to the +string-piece, where he had fastened his motor-boat. He looked again, +rubbed his eyes to make sure and then cried out: + +"The ARROW is gone!" + +There was no doubt of it. The craft was not at the dock. Breaking +into a run, Tom hastened to the boathouse. The ARROW was not in there, +and a look across the lake showed only a few rowboats in sight. + +"That's mighty funny," mused the youth. "I wonder--" + +He paused suddenly in his thoughts. + +"Maybe Garret took it out to try and see that it worked all right," he +said hopefully. "He knows how to run a boat. Maybe he wanted to see +how the rudder behaved and is out in it now. He got through dinner +before I did. But I should have thought he'd have said something to me +if he was going out in it." + +This was the one weak point in Tom's theory, and he felt it at once. + +"I'll see if Garret is in his shop," he went on as he turned back +toward the house. + +The first person he met as he headed for the group of small structures +where Mr. Swift's inventive work was carried on was Garret Jackson, the +engineer. + +"I--I thought you were out in my boat!" stammered Tom. + +"Your boat! Why would I be out in your boat?" and Mr. Jackson removed +his pipe from his mouth and stared at the young inventor. + +"Because it's gone!" + +"Gone!" repeated the engineer, and then Tom told him. The two hurried +down to the dock, but the addition of another pair of eyes was of no +assistance in locating the ARROW. The trim little motor craft was +nowhere to be seen. + +"I can't understand it," said Tom helplessly. "I wasn't gone more than +an hour at dinner, and yet--" + +"It doesn't take long to steal a motor-boat," commented the engineer. + +"But I think I would have heard them start it," went on the lad. +"Maybe it drifted off, though I'm sure I tied it securely." + +"No, there's not much likelihood of that. There's no wind to-day and +no currents in the lake. But it could easily have been towed off by +some one in a rowboat and then you would not have heard the motor +start." + +"That's so," agreed the youth. "That's probably how they did it. They +sneaked up here in a rowboat and towed the ARROW off. I'm sure of it." + +"And I'll wager I know who did it," exclaimed Mr. Jackson energetically. + +"Who?" demanded Tom quickly. + +"Those men who were sneaking around--Happy Harry and his gang. They +stole the boat once and they'd do it again. Those men took your boat, +Tom." + +The young inventor shook his head. + +"No," he answered, "I don't believe they did." + +"Why not?" + +"Well, because they wouldn't dare come back here when they knew we're +on the lookout for them. It would be too risky." + +"Oh, those fellows don't care for risk," was the opinion of Mr. +Jackson. "Take my word for it, they have your boat. They have been +keeping watch, and as soon as they saw the dock unprotected they +sneaked up and stole the ARROW." + +"I don't think so," repeated Mr. Swift's son. + +"Who do you think took it then?" + +"Andy Foger!" was the quick response. "I believe he and his cronies +did it to annoy me. They have been trying to get even with me-or at +least Andy has--for outbidding him on this boat. He's tried several +times, but he hasn't succeeded--until now. I'm sure Andy Foger has my +boat," and Tom, with a grim tightening of his lips, swung around as +though to start in instant pursuit. + +"Where are you going?" asked Mr. Jackson. + +"To find Andy and his cronies. When I locate them I'll make them tell +me where my boat is." + +"Hadn't you better send some word to your father? You can hardly get +to Sandport now, and he'll be worried about you." + +"That's so, I will. I'll telephone dad that the boat--no, I'll not do +that either, for he'd only worry and maybe get sick. I'll just tell +him I've had a little accident, that Andy ran into me and that I can't +come back to the hotel for a day or two. Maybe I'll be lucky to find +my boat in that time. But dad won't worry then, and, when I see him, I +can explain. That's what I'll do," and Tom was soon talking to Mr. +Swift by telephone. + +The inventor was very sorry his son could not come back to rejoin him +and Ned, but there was no help for it, and, with as cheerful voice as +he could assume, the lad promised to start for Sandport at the earliest +opportunity. + +"Now to find Andy and my boat!" Tom exclaimed as he hung up the +telephone receiver. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +A DISMAYING STATEMENT + + +Trouble is sometimes good in a way; it makes a person resourceful. Tom +Swift had had his share of annoyances of late, but they had served a +purpose. He had learned to think clearly and quickly. Now, when he +found his boat stolen, he at once began to map out a plan of action. + +"What will you do first?" asked Mr. Jackson as he saw his employer's +son hesitating. + +"First I'm going to Andy Foger's house," declared the young inventor. +"If he's home I'm going to tell him what I think of him. If he's not, +I'm going to find him." + +"Why don't you take your sailboat and run down to his dock?" suggested +the engineer. "It isn't as quick as your motor-boat, but it's better +than walking." + +"So it is," exclaimed the lad. "I will use my catboat. I had +forgotten all about it of late. I'm glad you spoke." + +He was soon sailing down the lake in the direction of the boathouse on +the waterfront of Mr. Foger's property. It needed but a glance around +the dock to show him that the RED STREAK was not there, but Tom +recollected the accident to the steering gear and thought perhaps Andy +had taken his boat to some wharf where there was a repair shop and +there left it to return home himself. But inquiry of Mrs. Foger, who +was as nice a woman as her son was a mean lad, gave Tom the information +that his enemy was not at home. + +"He telephoned to me that his boat was damaged," said Mrs. Foger +gently, "and that he had taken it to get fixed. Then, he said, he and +some friends were going on a little cruise and might not be back +to-night." + +"Did he say where he was going?" asked our hero, who did not tell +Andy's mother why he wanted to see her son. + +"No, and I'm worried about him. Sometimes I think Andy is too--well, +too impetuous, and I'm afraid he will get into trouble." + +Tom, in spite of his trouble, could hardly forbear smiling. Andy's +mother was totally unaware of the mean traits of her son and thought +him a very fine chap. Tom was not going to undeceive her. + +"I'm afraid something will happen to him," she went on. "Do you think +there is any danger being out on the lake in a motor-boat, Mr. Swift? +I understand you have one." + +"Yes, I have one," answered Tom. He was going to say he had once had +one, but thought better of it. "No, there is very little danger this +time of year," he added. + +"I am very glad to hear you say so," went on Mrs. Foger with a sigh. +"I shall feel more at ease when Andy is away now. When he returns +home, I shall tell him you called upon him and he will return your +visit. I am glad to see that the custom of paying calls has not died +out among the present generation. It is a pleasant habit, and I am +glad to have my son conform to it. He shall return your kind visit." + +"Oh, no, it's of no consequence," replied Tom quickly, thinking grimly +that his visit was far from a friendly one. "There is no need to tell +your son I was here. I will probably see him in a day or two. + +"Oh, but I shall tell him," insisted Mrs. Foger with a kind smile. +"I'm sure he will appreciate your call." + +There was much doubt concerning this in the mind of the young inventor, +but he did not express it and soon took his leave. Up and down the +lake for the rest of the day he cruised, looking in vain for a sight of +Andy Foger in the RED STREAK, but the racing boat appeared to be well +hidden. + +"If I only could find where they've taken mine," mused Tom. "Hang it +all, this is rotten luck!" and for the first time he began to feel +discouraged. + +"Maybe you'd better notify the police," suggested Mr. Jackson when Tom +returned to the Swift house that night. "They might help locate it." + +"I think I can do as well as the police," answered the youth. "If the +boat is anywhere it's on the lake, and the police have no craft in +which to make a search." + +"That's so," agreed the engineer. "I wish I could help you, but I +don't believe it would be wise for me to leave the house, especially +since those men have been about lately." + +"No, you must stay here," was Tom's opinion. "I'll take another day or +two to search. By this time Andy and his gang will return, I'm sure, +and I can tackle them." + +"Suppose they don't?" + +"Well, then I'll make a tour of the lake in my sailboat and I'll run up +to Sandport and tell dad, for he will wonder what's keeping me. I'll +know better next time than to leave my boat at the dock without taking +out the connection at the spark coil, so no one can start the motor. I +should have done that at first, but you always think of those things +afterward." + +The lad began his search again the next morning and cruised about in +little bays and gulfs looking for a sight of the RED STREAK or the +ARROW, but he saw neither, and a call at Andy's house showed that the +red-haired youth had not returned. Mrs. Foger was quite nervous over +her son's continued absence, but Mr. Foger thought it was all right. + +Another day passed without any results and the young inventor was +getting so nervous, partly with worrying over the loss of his boat and +partly on his father's account, that he did not know what to do. + +"I can't stand it any longer," he announced to Mrs. Baggert the night +of the third day, after a telephone message had been received from Mr. +Swift. The inventor wanted to know why his son did not return to the +hotel to join him and Ned. "Well, what will you do?" asked the +housekeeper. + +"If I don't find my boat to-morrow, I'll sail to Sandport, bring home +dad and Ned and we three will go all over the lake. My boat must be on +it somewhere, but Lake Carlopa is so cut up that it could easily be +hidden." + +"It's queer that the Foger boy doesn't come home. That makes it look +as if he was guilty." + +"Oh, I'm sure he took it all right," returned Tom. "All I want is to +see him. It certainly is queer that he stays away as long as he does. +Sam Snedecker and Pete Bailey are with him, too. But they'll have to +return some time." + +Tom dreamed that night of finding his boat and that it was a wreck. He +awoke, glad to find that the latter part was not true, but wishing that +some of his night vision might come to pass during the day. + +He started out right after breakfast, and, as usual, headed for the +Foger home. He almost disliked to ask Mrs. Foger if her son had yet +returned, for Andy's mother was so polite and so anxious to know +whether any danger threatened that Tom hardly knew how to answer her. +But he was saved that embarrassment on this occasion, for as he was +going up the walk from the lake to the residence he met the gardener +and from him learned that Andy had not yet come back. + +"But his mother had a message from him, I did hear," went on the man. +"He's on his way. It seems he had some trouble." + +"Trouble. What kind of trouble?" asked Tom. + +"I don't rightly know, sir, but," and here the gardener winked his eye, +"Master Andy isn't particular what kind of trouble he gets into." + +"That's right," agreed our hero, and as he went down again to where he +had left his boat he thought: "Nor what kind of trouble he gets other +people into. I wish I had hold of him for about five minutes!" + +The sailboat swung slowly from the dock and heeled over to the gentle +breeze. Hardly knowing what to do, Tom headed for the middle of the +lake. He was discouraged and tired of making plans only to have them +fail. + +As he looked across the stretch of water he saw a boat coming toward +him. He shaded his eyes with his hand to see better, and then, with a +pair of marine glasses, took an observation. He uttered an exclamation. + +"That's the RED STREAK as sure as I'm alive!" he cried. "But what's +the matter with her? They're rowing!" + +The lad headed his boat toward the approaching one. There was no doubt +about it. It was Andy Foger's craft, but it was not speeding forward +under the power of the motor. Slowly and laborious the occupants were +pulling it along, and as it was not meant to be rowed, progress was +very slow. + +"They've had a breakdown," thought Tom. "Serves 'em right! Now wait +till I tackle 'em and find out where my boat is. I've a good notion to +have Andy Foger arrested!" + +The sailing craft swiftly approached the motor-boat. Tom could see the +three occupants looking at him, apprehensively as well as curiously, he +thought. + +"Guess they didn't think I'd keep after 'em," mused the young inventor, +and a little later he was beside the RED STREAK. + +"Well," cried Tom angrily, "it's about time you came back!" + +"We've had a breakdown," remarked Andy, and he seemed quite humiliated. +He was beginning to find out that he didn't know as much about a +motor-boat as he thought he did. + +"I've been waiting for you," went on Tom. + +"Waiting for us? What for?" asked Sam Snedecker. + +"What for? As if you didn't know!" blurted out the owner of the ARROW. +"I want my boat, Andy Foger, the one you stole from me and hid! Tell +me where it is at once or I'll have you arrested!" + +"Your boat!" repeated the bully, and there was no mistaking the +surprise in his tones. + +"Yes, my boat! Don't try to bluff me like that." + +"I'm not trying to bluff you. We've been away, three days and just got +back." + +"Yes, I know you have. You took my boat with you, too." + +"Are you crazy?" demanded Pete Bailey. + +"No, but you fellows must have been to think you could take my boat and +me not know it," and Tom, filled with wrath, grasped the gunwale of the +RED STREAK as if he feared it would suddenly shoot away. + +"Look here!" burst out Andy, and he spoke sincerely, "we didn't touch +your boat. Did we, fellows?" + +"No!" exclaimed Sam and Pete at once, and they were very much in +earnest. + +"We didn't even know it was stolen, did we?" went on Andy. + +"No," agreed his chums. Tom looked unconvinced. + +"We haven't taken your boat and we can prove it," continued the bully. +"I know you and I have had quarrels, but I'm telling you the truth, Tom +Swift. I never touched your boat." + +There was no mistaking the sincerity of Andy. He was not a skilful +deceiver, and Tom, looking into his squint-eyes, which were opened +unusually wide, could not but help believing the fellow. + +"We haven't seen it since the day we had the collision," added Andy, +and his chums confirmed this statement. + +"We went off on a little cruise," continued the red-haired bully, "and +broke down several times. We had bad luck. Just as we were nearing +home something went wrong with the engine again. I never saw such a +poor motor. But we never took your boat, Tom Swift, and we can prove +it." + +Tom was in despair. He had been so sure that Andy was the thief, that +to believe otherwise was difficult. Yet he felt that he must. He +looked at the disabled motor of the RED STREAK and viewed it with the +interested and expert eye of a machinist, no matter if the owner of it +was his enemy. Then suddenly a brilliant idea came into Tom's head. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +STILL ON THE SEARCH + + +"You seem to have lots of trouble with your boat, Andy," said Tom after +a few moments of rather embarrassed silence. + +"I do," admitted the owner of the RED STREAK. "I've had bad luck ever +since I got it, but usually I've been able to fix it by looking in the +book. This time I can't find out what the trouble is, nor can any of +the fellows. It stopped when we were out in the middle of the lake and +we had to row. I'm sick of motor boating." + +"Suppose I fix it for you?" went on Tom. + +"If you do, I'll pay you well." + +"I wouldn't do it for pay--not the kind you mean," continued the young +inventor. + +"What do you mean then?" and Andy's face, that had lighted up, became +glum again. + +"Well, if I fix your boat for you, will you let me run it a little +while?" + +"You mean show me how to run it?" + +"No, I mean take it myself. Look here, Andy, my boat's been stolen, +and I thought you took it to get even with me. You say you didn't--" + +"And I didn't touch it," interposed the squint-eyed lad quickly. + +"All right, I believe you. But somebody stole it, and I think I know +who." + +"Who?" asked Sam Snedecker. + +"Well, you wouldn't know if I told you, but I suspect some men with +whom I had trouble before," and Tom referred to Happy Harry and his +gang. "I think they have my boat on this lake, and I'd like to get +another speedy craft to cruise about it and make a further search. How +about it, Andy? If I fix your boat, will you let me take it to look +for my boat?" + +"Sure thing!" agreed the bully quickly, and his voice for once was +friendly toward Tom. "Fix the engine so it will run, and you can use +the RED STREAK as long as you like." + +"Oh, I probably wouldn't want it very long. I could cover the lake in +about three days, and I hope by that time I could locate the thieves. +Is it a bargain?" + +"Sure," agreed Andy again, and Tom got into the motor-boat to look at +the engine. He found that it would require some time to adjust it +properly and that it would be necessary to take the motor apart. + +"I think I'd better tow you to my dock," the young inventor said to +Andy. "I can use some tools from the shop then, and by to-night I'll +have the RED STREAK in running order." + +The breeze was in the right quarter, fortunately, and with the +motor-boat dragging behind, the ARROW's owner put the nose of the +sailing craft toward his home dock. + +When Tom reached his house he found that Mrs. Baggert had received +another telephone message from Mr. Swift, inquiring why his son had not +returned to Sandport. + +"He says if you don't come back by to-morrow," repeated the +housekeeper, "that he'll come home by train. He's getting anxious, I +believe." + +"Shouldn't wonder," admitted Tom. "But I want him to stay there. The +change will do him good. I'll soon have my boat back, now that I can +go about the lake swiftly, and then I'll join him. I'll tell him to be +patient." + +Tom talked with his father at some length, assuring him that everything +was well at the Shopton house and promising to soon be with him. Then +the young inventor began work on the motor of the RED STREAK. He found +it quite a job and had to call on Mr. Jackson to help him, for one of +the pistons had to be repaired and a number of adjustments made to the +cylinders. + +But that night the motor was fully mended and placed back in the boat. +It was in better shape than it had been since Andy had purchased the +craft. + +"There," remarked Tom, "now I'm ready to hunt for those scoundrels. +Will you leave your boat at my dock to-night, Andy?" + +"Yes, so you can start out early in the morning. I'm not going." + +"Why not?" demanded Tom quickly. + +"Well--er--you see I've had enough of motoring for a while," explained +Andy. "Besides, I don't believe my mother would like me to go out on a +chase after thieves. If we had to shoot I might hit one of them, and--" + +"Oh, I see," answered Tom. "But I don't like to take your boat alone. +Besides, I don't fancy there will be much shooting. I know I'm not +going to take a gun. In fact, the one Mr. Duncan gave me is in the +boat. All I want is to get the ARROW back." + +"That's all right," went on Andy. "You take my boat and use it as long +as you like. I'll rest up a few days. When you find your boat you can +bring mine back." + +Tom understood. He was just as glad not to have Andy accompany him in +the chase, as he and the red-haired lad had never been good friends and +probably never would be. So it would cause some embarrassment to be +together in a boat all day. Then again Tom knew he could manage the +RED STREAK better alone, but, of course, he did not want to mention +this when he asked for the loan of the craft. Andy's own suggestion, +however, had solved the difficulty. Tom had an idea that Andy felt a +little timid about going in pursuit of the thieves, but naturally it +would not do to mention this, for the squint-eyed lad considered +himself quite a fighter. + +Early the next morning, alone in the RED STREAK, Tom continued the +search for his stolen boat. He started out from his home dock and +mapped out a course that would take him well around the lake. + +"I s'pose I could take a run to Sandport now," mused the youth as he +shot in and out of the little bays, keeping watch for the ARROW. "But +if I do dad will have to be told all about it, and, he'll worry. Then, +too, he might want to accompany me, and I think I can manage this +better alone, for the RED STREAK will run faster with only one in. I +ought to wind up this search in two days, if my boat is still on the +lake. And if those scoundrels have sunk her I'll make them pay for it." + +On shot the speedy motor-boat, in and out along the winding shoreline, +with the lad in the bow at the steering-wheel peering with eager eyes +into every nook and corner where his craft might be hidden. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +"THERE SHE IS!" + + +Anticipating that he would be some time on his search, the young +inventor had gone prepared for it. He had a supply of provisions and +he had told Mrs. Baggert he might not be back that night. But he did +not intend to sleep aboard the RED STREAK, which, being a racing boat, +was not large enough to afford much room for passengers. Tom had +planned, therefore, to put up at some hotel near the lake in case his +hunt should last beyond one night. + +That it would do this was almost certain, for all that morning he +searched unavailingly for the ARROW. A distant mill whistle sounding +over Lake Carlopa told him it was noon. + +"Dinner time," he announced to himself. "Guess I'll run up along shore +in the shade and eat." + +Selecting a place where the trees overhung the water, forming a quiet, +cool nook, Tom sent the boat in there, and, tying it to a leaning tree, +he began his simple meal. Various thoughts filled his mind, but chief +among them was the desire to overtake the thieves who had his boat. +That it was Happy Harry's gang he was positive. + +The lad nearly finished eating and was considering what direction he +might best search in next when he heard, running along a road that +bordered the lake, an automobile. + +"Wonder who that is?" mused Tom. "It won't do any harm to take a look, +for it might be some of those thieves again. They probably still have +their auto or Happy Harry couldn't have gotten from Sandport to Shopton +so quickly." + +The young inventor slipped ashore from the motor-boat, taking care to +make no noise. Stealing silently along toward the road, he peered +through the underbrush for a sight of the machine, which seemed to be +going slowly. But before the youth had a glimpse of it he was made +aware who the occupant was by hearing someone exclaim: + +"Bless my shoe laces if this cantankerous contraption isn't going wrong +again! I wonder if it's going to have a fit here in this lonely place. +It acts just as if it was. Bless my very existence! Hold on now. Be +nice! Be nice!" + +"Mr. Damon!" exclaimed Tom, and, without knowing it, he had spoken +aloud. + +"Hold on there! Hold on! Who's calling me in this forsaken locality? +Bless my shirt studs! But who is it?" and the eccentric man who had +sold Tom the motor-cycle looked intently at the bushes. + +"Here I am, Mr. Damon," answered the lad, stepping out into the road. +"I knew it was you as soon as I saw you." + +"Bless my liver, but that's very true! I suppose you heard my +unfortunate automobile puffing along. I declare I don't know what ails +it. I got it on the advice of my physician, who said I must get out in +the air, but, bless my gears, it's the auto who needs a doctor more +than I do! It's continually out of order. Something is going to +happen right away. I can tell by the way it's behaving." + +Mr. Damon had thrown out the clutch, but the engine was still running, +though in a jerky, uncertain fashion, which indicated to the trained +ear of the young inventor that something was wrong. + +"Perhaps I can fix it for you as I did before," ventured Tom. + +"Bless my eyebrows! Perhaps you can," cried the eccentric man +hopefully. "You always seem to turn up at the right moment. How do +you manage it?" + +"I don't know. I remember the time you turned up just when I wanted +you to help me capture Happy Harry and his gang, and now, by, a strange +coincidence, I'm after them again." + +"You don't say so! My good gracious! Bless my hatband! But that's +odd. There!" he ejaculated suddenly as the automobile engine stopped +with a choking sigh, "I knew something was going to happen." + +"Let me take a look," proposed the lad, and he was soon busy peering +into the interior of the machine. At first he could not find the +trouble, but being a persistent youth, Tom went at it systematically +and located it in two places. The clutch was not rightly adjusted and +the carburetor float feed needed fixing. The young inventor was not +long in making the slight repairs and then he assured Mr. Damon that +his automobile would run properly. + +"Bless my very existence, but what a thing it is to have a head for +mechanics!" exclaimed the odd man gratefully. "Now it would bother me +to adjust a nutmeg grater if it got out of order, but I dare say you +could fix it in no time." + +"Yes," answered Tom, "I could and so could you, for there's nothing +about it to fix. But you can go ahead now if you wish." + +"Thank you. It just shows how ignorant I am of machinery. I presume +something will go wrong in another mile or two. But may I ask what you +are doing here? I presume you are in your motor-boat, sailing about +for pleasure. And didn't I understand you to say you were after those +chaps again? Bless my watch charm, but I was so interested in my +machine that I didn't think to ask you." + +"Yes, I am after those thieves again." + +"In your motor-boat, I presume. Well, I hope you catch them. What +have they stolen now?" + +"My motor-boat. That's why I'm after them, but I had to borrow a craft +to chase them with." + +"Bless my soul! You don't tell me! How did it happen?" + +Thereupon the lad related as much of the story as was necessary to put +Mr. Damon in possession of the facts and he ended up with: + +"I don't suppose you have seen anything of the men in my boat, have +you?" + +Mr. Damon seemed strangely excited. He had entered his auto, but as +the lad's story progressed the odd gentleman had descended. When Tom +finished he exclaimed: + +"Don't say a word now--not a word. I want to think, and that is a +process, which, for me, requires a little time. Don't speak a word +now. Bless my left hand, but I think I can help you!" + +He frowned, stamped first one foot, then the other, looked up at the +sky, as if seeking inspiration there, and then down at the ground, as +if that would help him to think. Then he clapped his hands smartly +together and cried out: + +"Bless my shoe buttons!" + +"Have you seen them?" asked Tom eagerly. + +"Was your boat one with a red arrow painted on the bow?" asked Mr. +Damon in turn. + +"It was!" and the lad was now almost as excited as was his friend. + +"Then I've seen it and, what's more, this morning! Bless my spark +plug, I've seen it!" + +"Tell me about it!" pleaded the young inventor, and Mr. Damon, calming +himself after an effort, resumed: + +"I was out for an early spin in my auto," he said, "and was traveling +along a road that bordered the lake, about fifteen miles above here. I +heard a motor-boat puffing along near shore, and, looking through the +trees, I saw one containing three men. It had a red arrow on the bow, +and that's why I noticed it, because I recalled that your boat was +named the DART." + +"ARROW," corrected Tom. + +"The ARROW. Oh, yes, I knew it was something like that. Well of +course at the time I didn't think that it was your boat, but I +associated it in my mind with yours. Do you catch my meaning?" + +Tom did and said so, wishing Mr. Damon would hurry and get to the +point. But the eccentric character had to do things in his own way. + +"Exactly," he resumed. "Well, I didn't think that was your boat, but, +at the same time, I watched the men out of curiosity, and I was struck +with their behavior. They seemed to be quarreling, and, from what I +could hear, two of them seemed to be remonstrating with the third one +for having taken some sort of a piece of wood from the forward +compartment. I believe that is the proper term." + +"Yes!" Tom almost shouted. "But where did they go? What became of +them? What was the man doing to the forward compartment--where the +gasoline tank is?" + +"Exactly. I was trying to think what was kept there. That's it, the +gasoline tank. Well, the boat kept on up the lake, and I don't know +what became of the men. But about that piece of wood. It seems that +one of the men removed a block, from under the tank and the others +objected. That's why they were quarreling." + +"That's very strange," exclaimed the lad. "There must be some mystery +about my boat that I don't understand. But that will keep until I get +the boat itself. Good-by, Mr. Damon. I must be off." + +"Where to?" + +"Up the lake after those thieves. I must lose no time," and Tom +started to go back to where he had left the RED STREAK. + +"Hold on!" cried Mr. Damon. "I have something to propose, Tom. Two +heads are better than one, even if one doesn't know how to adjust a +nutmeg grate. Suppose I come along with you? I can point out the +direction the men took, at any rate." + +"I'll be very glad to have you," answered the lad, who felt that he +might need help if there were three of the thieves in his craft. "But +what will you do with your automobile?" + +"I'll just run it down the road a way to where a friend of mine has a +stable. I'll leave it in there and join you. Will you let me come? +Bless my eye glasses, but I'd like to help catch those scoundrels!" + +"I'll be very glad to have you. Go ahead, put the auto in the barn and +I'll wait for you." + +"I have a better plan than that," replied Mr. Damon. "Run your boat +down to that point," and he indicated one about a mile up the lake. +"I'll be there waiting for you, and we'll lose no time. I can cover +the ground faster in my auto than you can in your boat." + +Tom saw the advantage of this and was soon under way, while he heard on +shore the puffing of his friend's car. On the trip to the point Tom +puzzled over the strange actions of the man in taking one of the braces +from under the gasoline tank. + +"I'll wager he did it before," thought the lad. "It must be the same +person who was tampering with the lock of the forward compartment the +day I bought the boat. But why--that's the question--why?" + +He could find no answer to this, puzzle over it as he did, and he gave +it up. His whole desire now was to get on the trail of the thieves, +and he had strong hopes, after the clew Mr. Damon had given him. The +latter was waiting for him on the point, and so nimble was the owner of +the auto, in spite of his size, that Tom was not delayed more than the +fraction of a minute ere he was under way again, speeding up the lake. + +"Now keep well in toward shore," advised Mr. Damon. "Those fellows +don't want to be observed any more than they can help, and they'll +sneak along the bank, They were headed in that direction," and he +pointed it out. "Now I hope you won't think I'm in the way. Besides, +you know, if you get your boat back, you'll want some one to help steer +it, while you run this one. I can do that, at all events, bless my +very existence!" + +"I am very glad of your help," replied the lad, but he did not take his +eyes from the water before him, and he was looking for a sight of his +boat with the men in it. + +For three hours or more Tom and Mr. Damon cruised in and out along the +shore of the lake, going farther and farther up the body of water. Tom +was beginning to think that he would reach Sandport without catching +sight of the thieves, and he was wondering if, after all, he might not +better stop off and see his father when, above the puffing of the motor +in the RED STREAK, he heard the put-put of another boat. + +"Listen!" cried Mr. Damon, who had heard it at the same time. + +Tom nodded. + +"They're just ahead of us," whispered his companion. + +"If it's them," was the lad's reply. + +"Speed up and we'll soon see," suggested Mr. Damon, and Tom shoved the +timer over. The RED STREAK forged ahead. The sound of the other boat +came more plainly now. It was beyond a little point of land. The +young inventor steered out to get around it and leaned eagerly forward +to catch the first glimpse of the unseen craft. Would it prove to be +the ARROW? + +The put-put became louder now. Mr. Damon was standing up, as if that +would, in some mysterious way, help. Then suddenly the other boat came +into view. Tom saw it in an instant and knew it for the ARROW. + +"There she is!" he cried. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE PURSUIT + + +For an instant after Tom's exultant cry the men in the boat ahead were +not aware that they were being pursued. Then, as the explosions from +the motor of the RED STREAK sounded over the water, they turned to see +who was coming up behind them. There was no mistaking the attitude of +the young inventor and his companion. They were leaning eagerly +forward, as if they could reach out and grasp the criminals who were +fleeing before them. + +"Put on all the speed you can, Tom!" begged Mr. Damon. "We'll catch +the scoundrels now. Speed up the motor! Oh, if I only had my +automobile now. Bless my crank shaft, but one can go so much faster on +land than on water." + +The lad did not reply, but thought, with grim humor, that running an +automobile over Lake Carlopa would be no small feat. Mr. Damon, +however, knew what he was saying. + +"We'll catch them! We'll nab 'em!" he cried. "Speed her up, Tom." + +The youth was doing his best with the motor of the RED STREAK. He was +not as well acquainted with it as he was with the one in his boat, but +he knew, even better than Andy Foger, how to make it do efficient work. +It was a foregone conclusion that the RED STREAK, if rightly handled, +could beat the ARROW, but there were several points in favor of the +thieves. The motor of Tom's boat was in perfect order, and even an +amateur, with some knowledge of a boat, could make it do nearly its +best. On the other hand, the RED STREAK's machinery needed "nursing." +Again, the thieves had a good start, and that counted for much. But +Tom counted on two other points. One was that Happy Harry and his gang +would probably know little about the fine points of a motor. They had +shown this in letting the motor of the boat they had first stolen get +out of order, and Tom knew the ins and outs of a gasoline engine to +perfection. So the chase was not so hopeless as it seemed. + +"Do you think you can catch them?" asked Mr. Damon anxiously. + +"I'm going to make a big try," answered his companion. + +"They're heading out into the middle of the lake!" cried the eccentric +man. + +"If they do, I can cut them off!" murmured Tom as he put the wheel over. + +But whoever was steering the ARROW knew better than to send it on a +course that would enable the pursuing boat to cut across and shorten +the distance to it. After sending the stolen craft far enough out from +shore to clear points of land that jutted out into the lake, the +leading boat was sent straight ahead. + +"A stern chase and a long chase!" murmured Mr. Damon. "Bless my +rudder, but those fellows are not going to give up easily." + +"I guess not," murmured Tom. "Will you steer for a while, Mr. Damon?" + +"Of course I will. If I could get out and pull the boat after me, to +make it go faster, I would. But as I always lose my breath when I run, +perhaps it's just as well that I stay in here." Tom thought so too, +but his attention was soon given to the engine. He adjusted the timer +to get if possible a little more speed out of the boat he had borrowed +from Andy, and he paid particular attention to the oiling system. + +"We're going a bit faster!" called Mr. Damon' encouragingly, "or else +they're slacking up." + +Tom peered ahead to see if this was so. It was hard to judge whether +he was overhauling the ARROW, as it was a stern chase, and that is +always difficult to judge. But a glimpse along shore showed him that +they were slipping through the water at a faster speed. + +"They're up to something!" suddenly exclaimed Mr. Damon a moment later. +"I believe they're going to fire on us, Tom. They are pointing +something this way." + +The lad stood up and gazed earnestly at his boat, which seemed to be +slipping away from him so fast. One of the occupants was in the stern, +aiming some glittering object at those in the RED STREAK. For a moment +Tom thought it might be a gun. Then, as the man turned, he saw what it +was. + +"A pair of marine glasses," cried the lad. "They're trying to make out +who we are." + +"I guess they know well enough," rejoined Mr. Damon. "Can't you go any +faster, Tom?" + +"I'm afraid not. But we'll land them, sooner or later. They can't go +very far in this direction without running ashore and we'll have them. +They're cutting across the lake now." + +"They may escape us if it gets dark. Probably that's what they're +working for. They want to keep ahead of us until nightfall." + +The young inventor thought of this too, but there was little he could +do. The motor was running at top speed. It could be made to go +faster, Tom knew, with another ignition system, but that was out of the +question now. + +The man with the glasses had resumed his seat, and the efforts of the +trio seemed concentrated on the motor of the ARROW. They, too, wished +to go faster. But they had not skill enough to accomplish it, and in +about ten minutes, when Tom took another long and careful look to +ascertain if possible whether or not he was overhauling the thieves, he +was delighted to see that the distance between the boats had lessened. + +"We're catching them! We're creeping up on them!" cried Mr. Damon. +"Keep it up, Tom." There was nothing to do, however, save wait. The +boat ahead had shifted her course somewhat and was now turning in +toward the shore, for the lake was narrow at this point, and abandoning +their evident intention of keeping straight up the lake, the thieves +seemed now bent on something else. + +"I believe they're going to run ashore and get out!" cried Mr. Damon. + +"If they do, it's just what I want," declared the lad. "I don't care +for the men. I want my boat back!" + +The occupants of the ARROW were looking to the rear again, and +one--Happy Harry, Tom thought--shook his fist. + +"Ah, wait until I get hold of you!" cried Mr. Damon, following his +example. "I'll make you wish you'd behaved yourselves, you scoundrels! +Bless my overcoat! Catch them if you can, Tom." + +There was now no doubt of the intention of the fleeing ones. The shore +was looming up ahead and straight for it was headed the ARROW. Tom +sent Andy's boat in the same direction. He was rapidly overhauling the +escaping ones now, for they had slowed down the motor. Three minutes +later the foremost boat grated on the beach of the lake. The men +leaped out, one of them pausing an instant in the bow. + +"Here, don't you damage my boat!" cried Tom involuntarily, for the man +seemed to be hammering something. + +The fellow leaped over the side, holding something in his hand. + +"There they go! Catch them!" yelled Mr. Damon. + +"Let them go!" answered the lad as the men ran toward the wood. "I +want my boat. I'm afraid they've damaged her. One of them tore +something from the bow." + +At the same instant the two companions of the fellow who had paused in +the forward part of the ARROW saw that he had something in his hand. +With yells of rage they dashed at him, but he, shaking his fist at +them, plunged into the bushes and could be heard breaking his way +through, while his companions were in pursuit. + +"They've quarreled among themselves," commented Mr. Damon as high and +angry voices could be heard from the woods. "There's some mystery +here, Tom." + +"I don't doubt it, but my first concern is for my boat. I want to see +if they have damaged her." + +Tom had run so closely in shore with the RED STREAK that he had to +reverse to avoid damaging the craft against the bank. In a mass of +foam he stopped her in time, and then springing ashore, he hurried to +his motor-boat. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +A QUIET CRUISE + + +"Have they done any damage?" asked Mr. Damon as he stood in the bow of +the RED STREAK. + +Tom did not answer for a moment. His trained eye was looking over the +engine. + +"They yanked out the high tension wire instead of stopping the motor +with the switch," he answered at length, and then, when he had taken a +look into the compartment where the gasoline tank was, he added: "And +they've ripped out two more of the braces I put in. Why in the world +they did that I can't imagine." + +"That's evidently what one man had that the others wanted," was Mr. +Damon's opinion. + +"Probably," agreed Tom. "But what could he or they want with wooden +braces?" + +That was a puzzler for Mr. Damon, but he answered: + +"Perhaps they wanted to damage your boat and those two men were mad +because the other got ahead of them." + +"Taking out the braces wouldn't do much damage. I can easily put +others in. All it would do would be to cause the tank to sag down and +maybe cause a leak in the pipe. But that would be a queer thing to do. +No, I think there's some mystery that I haven't gotten to the bottom of +yet. But I'm going to." + +"Good!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "I'll help you. But can you run your +boat back home?" + +"Not without fixing it a bit. I must brace up that tank and put in a +new high-tension wire from the spark coil. I can do it here, but I'd +rather take it to the shop. Besides, with two boats to run back, for I +must return Andy's to him, I don't see how I can do it very well unless +you operate one, Mr. Damon." + +"Excuse me, but I can't do it. Bless my slippers, but I would be sure +to run on a rock! The best plan will be for you to tow your boat and +I'll ride in it and steer. I can do that much, anyhow. You can ride +in the RED STREAK." + +Tom agreed that this would be a good plan. So, after temporarily +bracing up the tank in the ARROW, it was shoved out into the lake and +attached to Andy's craft. + +"But aren't you going to make a search for those men?" asked Mr. Damon +when Tom was ready to start back. + +"No, I think it would be useless. They are well away by this time, and +I don't fancy chasing them through the woods, especially as night is +coming on. Besides, I won't leave these boats." + +"No doubt you are right, but I would like to see them punished, and I +am curious enough to wish to know what object that scoundrel could have +in ripping out the blocks that served as a brace for the tank." + +"I feel the same way myself," commented the lad, "especially since this +is the second time that's happened. But we'll have to wait, I guess." + +A little later the start back was made, Mr. Damon steering the ARROW +skillfully enough so that it did not drag on the leading boat, in which +Tom rode. His course took him not far from the lake sanitarium, where +Mr. Duncan, the hunter, had been brought, and desiring to know how the +wounded man was getting on, the youth proposed that they make a halt, +explaining to Mr. Damon his reason. + +"Yes, and while you're about it you'd better telephone your father that +you will join him to-morrow," suggested the other. "I know what it is +to fret and worry. You can fix your boat up in time to go to Sandport +to-morrow, can't you?" + +"Yes, I'm glad you reminded me of it. I'll telephone from the +sanitarium, if they'll let me." + +Mr. Duncan was not at the institution, Tom was told, his injury having +healed sufficiently to allow of his being removed to his home. The +youth readily secured permission to use the telephone, and was soon in +communication with Mr. Swift. While not telling him all the +occurrences that had delayed him, Tom gave his father and Ned Newton +enough information to explain his absence. Then the trip to Shopton +was resumed in the two boats. + +"What are you going to do about your automobile?" asked Tom as they +neared the point where the machine had been left. + +"Never mind about that," replied Mr. Damon. "It will do it good to +have a night's vacation. I will go on to your house with you, and +perhaps I can get a train back to my friend's home, so that I can claim +my car." + +"Won't you stay all night with me?" invited the young inventor. "I'd +be glad to have you." + +Mr. Damon agreed, and, Tom putting more speed on the RED STREAK, was +soon opposite his own dock. The ARROW was run in the boathouse and the +owner hastily told Mrs. Baggert and the engineer what had occurred. +Then he took Andy's boat to Mr. Foger's dock and warmly thanked the +red-haired lad for the use of his craft. + +"Did you find your boat?" asked Andy eagerly. "How did the RED STREAK +run?" + +"I got my boat and yours runs fine," explained Tom. + +"Good! I'll race you again some day," declared Andy. + +Mr. Damon enjoyed his visit at our hero's house, for Mrs. Baggert +cooked one of her best suppers for him. Tom and the engineer spent the +evening repairing the motor-boat, Mr. Damon looking on and exclaiming +"Bless my shoe leather" or some other part of his dress or anatomy at +every stage of the work. The engineer wanted to know all about the men +and their doings, but he could supply no reason for their queer actions +regarding the braces under the gasoline tank. + +In the morning Tom once more prepared for an early start for Sandport, +and Mr. Damon, reconsidering his plans, rode as far with him as the +place where the automobile had been left. There he took leave of the +young inventor, promising to call on Mr. Swift in the near future. + +"I hope you arrive at the hotel where your father is without any more +accidents," remarked the automobilist. "Bless my very existence, but +you seem to have the most remarkable series of adventures I ever heard +of!" + +"They are rather odd," admitted Tom. "I don't know that I particularly +care for them, either. But, now that I have my boat back, I guess +everything will be all right." + +But Tom could not look ahead. He was destined to have still more +exciting times, as presently will be related. + +Without further incident he arrived at the Lakeview Hotel in Sandport +that evening and found his father and Ned very glad to see him. Of +course he had to explain everything then, and, with his son safely in +his sight, Mr. Swift was not so nervous over the recital as he would +have been had Tom not been present. + +"Now for some nice, quiet trips," remarked the lad when he had finished +his account. "I feel as if I had cheated you out of part of your +vacation, Ned, staying away as long as I did." + +"Well, of course we missed you," answered his chum. "But your father +and I had a good time." + +"Yes, and I invented a new attachment for a kitchen boiler," added Mr. +Swift. "I had a chance for it when I passed through the hotel kitchen +one day, for I wanted to see what kind of a range they used." + +"I guess there's no stopping you from inventing," replied his son with +a laugh and a hopeless shake of the head. "But don't let it happen +again when you go away to rest." + +"Oh, I only just thought of it," said Mr. Swift. "I haven't worked the +details out yet." + +Then he wanted to know about everything at home and he seemed +particularly anxious lest the Happy Harry gang do some damage. + +"I don't believe they will," Tom assured him. "Garret and Mrs. Baggert +will be on guard." + +The next few days were pleasant ones for Tom, his father and Ned +Newton. They cruised about the lake, went fishing and camped in the +woods. Even Mr. Swift spent one night in the tent and said he liked it +very much. For a week the three led an ideal existence, going about as +they pleased, Ned taking a number of photographs with his new camera. +The ARROW proved herself a fine boat, and Tom and Ned, when Mr. Swift +did not accompany them, explored the seldom visited parts of Lake +Carlopa. + +The three had been out one day and were discussing the necessity of +returning home soon when Ned spoke. + +"I shall hate to give up this life and go to slaving in the bank +again," he complained. "I wish I was an inventor." + +"Oh, we inventors don't have such an easy time," said Mr. Swift. "You +never know when trouble is coming," and he little imagined how near the +truth he was. + +A little later they were at the hotel dock. When Tom had tied up his +boat the three walked up the path to the broad veranda that faced the +lake. A boy in uniform met them. + +"Some one has just called you on the telephone, Mr. Swift," he reported. + +"Some one wants me? Who is it?" + +"I think he said his name is Jackson, sir, Garret Jackson, and he says +the message is very important." + +"Tom, something has happened at home!" exclaimed the inventor as he +hurried up the steps. "I'm afraid there's bad news." + +Unable to still the fear in his heart, Tom followed his father. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +NEWS OF A ROBBERY + + +With a hand that trembled so he could scarcely hold the receiver of the +telephone, Mr. Swift placed it to his ear. + +"Hello! Hello!" he cried into the transmitter. "Yes, this is Mr. +Swift--yes, Garret. What is it?" + +Then came a series of clicks, which Tom and Ned listened to. The +inventor spoke again. + +"What's that? The same men? Broke in early this evening? Oh, that's +too bad! Of course, I'll come at once." + +There followed more meaningless clicks, which Tom wished he could +translate. His father hung up the receiver, turned to him and +exclaimed: + +"I've been robbed again!" + +"Robbed again! How, dad?" + +"By that same rascally gang, Garret thinks. This evening, when he and +Mrs. Baggert were in the house the burglar alarm went off. The +indicator showed that the electrical shop had been entered, and the +engineer hurried there. He saw a light inside and the shadows of +persons on the windows. Before he could reach the shop, however, the +thieves heard him coming and escaped. Oh, Tom, I should never have +come away!" + +"But did they take anything, dad? Perhaps Garret frightened them away +before they had a chance to steal any of your things. Did you ask him +that?" + +"I didn't need to. He said he made a hasty exanimation before he +called me up, and he is sure a number of my electrical inventions are +missing. Some of them are devices I never have had patented, and if I +lose them I will have no recovery." + +"But just what ones are they? Perhaps we can send out a police alarm +to-night." + +"Garret couldn't tell that," answered Mr. Swift as he paced to and fro +in the hotel office. "He doesn't know all the tools and machinery I +had in there. But it is certain that some of my most valuable things +have been taken." + +"Never mind. Don't worry, dad," and Tom tried to speak soothingly, for +he saw that his father was much excited. "We may be able to get them +back. How does Garret know the same men who stole the turbine model +broke in the shop this evening?" + +"He saw them. One was Happy Harry, he is positive. The others he did +not know, but he recognized the tramp from our description of him." + +"Then we must tell the police at once." + +"Yes, Tom, I wish you would telephone. I'll give you a description of +the things. No, I can't do that either, for I don't know what was +stolen. I must go home at once to find out. It's a good thing the +motor-boat is here. Come, let's start at once. What is my bill here?" +and the inventor turned to the hotel proprietor, who had come into the +office. "I have suffered a severe loss and must leave at once." + +"I am very sorry, sir. I'll have it ready for you in a few minutes." + +"All right. Tom, is your boat ready for a quick trip?" + +"Yes, dad, but I don't like to make it at night with three in. Of +course it might be perfectly safe, but there's a risk, and I don't like +to take it." + +"Don't worry about the risk on my account, Tom. I'm not afraid. I +must get home and see of what I have been robbed." + +The young inventor was in a quandary. He wanted to do as his father +requested and to aid him all he could, yet he knew that an all-night +trip in the boat down the lake would be dangerous, not only from the +chance of running on an unknown shore or into a hidden rock, but +because Mr. Swift was not physically fitted to stand the journey. + +"Come, Tom," exclaimed the aged inventor impatiently, "we must start at +once!" + +"Won't morning do as well, dad?" + +"No, I must start now. I could not sleep worrying over what has +happened. We will start--" + +At that instant there came a low, rumbling peal of thunder. Mr. Swift +started and peered from a window. There came a flash of lightning and +another vibrant report from the storm-charged clouds. + +"There is your bill, Mr. Swift," remarked the proprietor, coming up, +"but I would not advise you to start to-night. There is a bad storm in +the west, and it will reach here in a few minutes. Storms on Lake +Carlopa, especially at this open and exposed end, are not to be +despised, I assure you." + +"But I must get home!" insisted Tom's father. + +The lace curtain over the window blew almost straight out with a sudden +breeze, and a flash of lightning so bright that it reflected even in +the room where the incandescent electrics were glowing made several +others jump. Then came a mighty crash, and with that the flood-gates +of the storm were opened, and the rain came down in torrents. Tom +actually breathed a sigh of relief. The problem was solved for him. +It would be impossible to start to-night, and he was glad of it, much +as he wanted to get on the trail of the thieves. + +There was a scurrying on the part of the hotel attendants to close the +windows, and the guests who had been enjoying the air out on the +porches came running in. With a rush, a roar and a muttering, as peal +after peal of thunder sounded, the deluge continued. + +"It's a good thing we didn't start," observed Ned. + +"I should say so," agreed Tom. "But we'll get off the first thing in +the morning, dad." + +Mr. Swift did not reply, but his nervous pacing to and fro in the hotel +office showed how anxious he was to be at home again. There was no +help for it, however, and, after a time, finding that to think of +reaching his house that night was out of the question, the inventor +calmed down somewhat. + +The storm continued nearly all night, as Tom could bear witness, for he +did not sleep well, nor did his father. And when he came down to +breakfast in the morning Mr. Swift plainly showed the effects of the +bad news. His face was haggard and drawn and his eyes smarted and +burned from lack of sleep. + +"Well, Tom, we must start early," he said nervously. "I am glad it has +cleared off. Is the boat all ready?" + +"Yes, and it's a good thing it was under shelter last night or we'd +have to bail it out now, and that would delay us." + +An hour later they were under way, having telephoned to the engineer at +the Swift home that they were coming. Garret Jackson reported over the +wire that he had notified the Shopton police of the robbery, but that +little could be done until the inventor arrived to give a description +of the stolen articles. + +"And that will do little good, I fear," remarked Tom. "Those fellows +have evidently been planning this for some time and will cover their +tracks well. I'd like to catch them, not only to recover your things, +dad, but to find out the mystery of my boat and why the man took the +tank braces." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE BALLOON ON FIRE + + +Down Lake Carlopa speeded the ARROW, those on board watching the banks +slip past as the motor-boat rapidly cut through the water. + +"What time do you think we ought to reach home, Tom?" asked Mr. Swift. + +"Oh, about four o'clock, if we don't stop for lunch." + +"Then we'll not stop," decided the inventor. "We'll eat what we have +on board. I suppose you have some rations?" and he smiled, the first +time since hearing the bad news. + +"Oh, yes, Ned and I didn't eat everything on our camping trips," and +Tom was glad to note that the fine weather which followed the storm was +having a good effect on his father. + +"We certainly had a good time," remarked Ned. "I don't know when I've +enjoyed a vacation so." + +"It's too bad it had to be cut short by this robbery," commented Mr. +Swift. + +"Oh, well, my time would be up in a few days more," went on the young +bank employee. "It's just as well to start back now." + +Tom took the shortest route he knew, keeping in as close to shore as he +dared, for now he was as anxious to get home as was his father. On and +on speeded the ARROW, yet fast as it was, it seemed slow to Mr. Swift, +who, like all nervous persons, always wanted to go wherever he desired +to go instantly. + +Tom headed his boat around a little point of land, and was urging the +engine to the top notch of speed, for now he was on a clear course, +with no danger from shoals or hidden rocks, when he saw, darting out +from shore, a tiny craft which somehow seemed familiar to him. He +recognized a peculiar put-putter of the motor. + +"That's the DOT," he remarked in a low voice to Ned, "Miss Nestor's +cousin's boat." + +"Is she in it now?" asked Ned. + +"Yes," answered Tom quickly. + +"You've got good eyesight," remarked Ned dryly, "to tell a girl at that +distance. It looks to me like a boy." + +"No, it's Mary--I mean Miss Nestor," the youth quickly corrected +himself, and a close observer would have noticed that he blushed a bit +under his coat of tan. + +Ned laughed, Tom blushed still more, and Mr. Swift, who was in a stern +seat, glanced up quickly. + +"It looks as if that boat wanted to hail us," the inventor remarked. + +Tom was thinking the same thing, for, though he had changed his course +slightly since sighting the DOT, the little craft was put over so as to +meet him. Wondering what Miss Nestor could want, but being only too +willing to have a chat with her, the young inventor shifted his helm. +In a short time the two craft were within hailing distance. + +"How do you do?" called Miss Nestor, as she slowed down her motor. +"Don't you think I'm improving, Mr. Swift?" + +"What's that? I--er--I beg your pardon, but I didn't catch that," +exclaimed the aged inventor quickly, coming out of a sort of day-dream. +"I beg your pardon." He thought she had addressed him. + +Miss Nestor blushed and looked questioningly at Tom. + +"My father," he explained as he introduced his parent. Ned needed +none, having met Miss Nestor before. "Indeed you have improved very +much," went on our hero. "You seem able to manage the boat all alone." + +"Yes, I'm doing pretty well. Dick lets me take the DOT whenever I want +to, and I thought I'd come out for a little trial run this morning. +I'm getting ready for the races. I suppose you are going to enter +them?" and she steered her boat alongside Tom's, who throttled down his +powerful motor so as not to pass his friend. + +"Races? I hadn't heard of them," he replied. + +"Oh, indeed there are to be fine ones under the auspices of the Lanton +Motor Club. Mr. Hastings, of whom you bought that boat, is going to +enter his new CARLOPA, and Dick has entered the DOT, in the baby class +of course. But I'm going to run it, and that's why I'm practicing." + +"I hope you win," remarked Tom. "I hadn't heard of the races, but I +think I'll enter. I'm glad you told me. Do you want to race now?" and +he laughed as he looked into the brown eyes of Mary Nestor. + +"No, indeed, unless you give me a start of several miles." + +They kept together for some little time longer, and then, as Tom knew +his father would be restless at the slow speed, he told Miss Nestor the +need of haste, and, advancing his timer, he soon left the DOT behind. +The girl called a laughing good-by and urged him not to forget the +races, which were to take place in about two weeks. + +"I suppose Andy Foger will enter his boat," commented Ned. + +"Naturally," agreed Tom. "It's a racer, and he'll probably think it +can beat anything on the lake. But if he doesn't manage his motor +differently, it won't." + +The distance from Sandport to Shopton had been more than half covered +at noon, when the travelers ate a lunch in the boat. Mr. Swift was +looking anxiously ahead to catch the first glimpse of his dock and Tom +was adjusting the machinery as finely as he dared to get out of it the +maximum speed. + +Ned Newton, who happened to be gazing aloft, wondering at the perfect +beauty of the blue sky after the storm, uttered a sudden exclamation. +Then he arose and pointed at some object in the air. + +"Look!" he cried, "A balloon! It must have gone up from some fair." + +Tom and his father looked upward. High in the air, almost over their +heads, was an immense balloon. It was of the hot-air variety, such as +performers use in which to make ascensions from fair grounds and +circuses, and below it dangled a trapeze, upon which could be observed +a man, only he looked more like a doll than a human being. + +"I shouldn't like to be as high as that," remarked Ned. + +"I would," answered Tom as he slowed down the engine the better to +watch the balloon. "I'd like to go up in an airship, and I intend to +some day." + +"I believe he's going to jump!" suddenly exclaimed Ned after a few +minutes. "He's going to do something, anyhow." + +"Probably come down in a parachute," said Tom. "They generally do +that." + +"No! No!" cried Ned. "He isn't going to jump. Something has +happened! The balloon is on fire! He'll be burned to death!" + +Horror stricken, they all gazed aloft. From the mouth of the balloon +there shot a tongue of fire, and it was followed by a cloud of black +smoke. The big bag was getting smaller and seemed to be descending, +while the man on the trapeze was hanging downward by his hands to get +as far as possible away from the terrible heat. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE RESCUE + + +"Jump! Jump!" cried Mr. Swift, leaping to his feet and motioning to +the man on the trapeze of the balloon. But it is doubtful whether or +not the performer heard him. Certainly he could not see the frantic +motions of the inventor. "Why doesn't he jump?" Mr. Swift went on +piteously to the two lads. "He'll surely be burned to death if he +hangs on there!" + +"It's too far to leap!" exclaimed Tom. "He's a good way up in the air, +though it looks like only a short distance. He would be killed if he +dropped now." + +"He ought to have a parachute," added Ned. "Most of those men do when +they go up in a balloon. Why doesn't he come down in that? I wonder +how the balloon took fire?" + +"Maybe he hasn't a parachute," suggested Tom, while he slowed down the +motor-boat still more so as to remain very nearly under the blazing +balloon. + +"Yes, he has!" cried Ned. "See, it's hanging to one side of the big +bag. He ought to cut loose. He could save himself then. Why doesn't +he?" + +The balloon was slowly twisting about, gradually settling to the +surface of the lake, but all the while the flames were becoming fiercer +and the black clouds of smoke increased in size. + +"There, see the parachute!" went on Ned. + +The twisting of the bag had brought into view the parachute or big, +umbrella-shaped bag, which would have enabled the man to safely drop to +the surface of the lake. Without it he would have hit the water with +such force that he would have been killed as surely as if he had struck +the solid earth. But the boys and Mr. Swift also saw something else, +and this was that the balloon was on fire on the same side where the +parachute was suspended. + +"Look! Look!" shouted Tom, bringing his boat to a stop. "That's why he +can't jump! He can't reach the parachute!" + +By this time the balloon had settled so low that the actions of the man +could be plainly seen. That he was in great agony of fear, as well as +in great pain from the terrific heat over his head was evident. He +shifted about on the trapeze bar, now hanging by one hand, so as to +bring his body a little farther below the blazing end of the bag, then, +when one arm tired, he would hang by the other. If the balloon would +only come down more quickly it would get to within such a short +distance of the water that the man could safely make the drop. But the +immense canvas bag was settling so slowly, for it was still very +buoyant, that considerable time must elapse before it would be near +enough to the water to make it safe for the unfortunate man to let go +the trapeze. + +"Oh, if we could only do something!" cried Tom. "We have to remain +here helpless and watch him burn to death. It's awful!" + +The three in the boat continued to gaze upward. They could see the man +making frantic efforts to reach his parachute from time to time. Once, +as a little current of air blew the flames and smoke to one side, he +thought he had a chance. Up on the trapeze bar he pulled himself and +then edged along it in an endeavor to grasp the ring of the parachute. +Once he almost had hold of that and also the cord, which ran to a knife +blade. This cord, being pulled, would sever the rope that bound it to +the balloon, and he would be comparatively safe, so he might drop to +the lake. But, just as he was about to grasp the ring and cord the +smoke came swirling down on him and the hungry flames seemed to put out +their fiery tongues to devour him. He had to slide back and once more +hung by his hands. + +"I thought he was saved then," whispered Tom, and even the whisper +sounded loud in the silence. + +Several men came running along the shore of the lake now. They saw the +occupants in the ARROW and cried out: + +"Why don't you save him? Go to his rescue!" + +"What can we do?" asked Ned quietly of his two friends, but he did not +trouble to answer the men on shore, who probably did not know what they +were saying. + +The motor-boat had drifted from a spot under the unfortunate +balloonist, and at a word from his father the young inventor started +the engine and steered the craft back directly under the blazing bag +again. + +"If he does drop, perhaps we may be able to pick him up," said Mr. +Swift. "I wish we could save him!" + +A cry from Ned startled Tom and his father, and their eyes, that had +momentarily been directed away from the burning bag high in the air, +were again turned toward it. + +"The balloon is falling apart!" exclaimed Ned. "It's all up with him +now!" + +Indeed it did seem so, for pieces of the burning canvas, blazing and +smoking, were falling in a shower from the part of the bag already +consumed, and the fiery particles were fairly raining down on the man. +But he still had his wits about him, though his perilous position was +enough to make any one lose his mind, and he swung from side to side on +the bar, shifting skillfully with his hands and dodging the larger +particles of blazing canvas. When some small sparks fell on his +clothing he beat them out with one hand, while with the other he clung +to the trapeze. + +There was scarcely any wind or the man's plight might have been more +bearable, for the current of air would have carried the smoke and fire +to one side. As it was, most of the smoke and flames went straight up, +save now and then, when a draught created by the heat would swirl the +black clouds down on the performer, hiding him from sight for a second +or two. A breeze would have carried the sparks away instead of letting +them fall on him. + +Nearer and nearer to the surface of the lake sank the balloon. By this +time the crowd on the bank had increased and there were excited +opinions as to what was best to do. But the trouble was that little +could be done. If the man could hold out until he got near enough to +the water to let go he might yet be saved, but this would not be for +some time at the present rate the balloon was falling. The performer +realized this, and, as the fire was getting hotter, he made another +desperate attempt to reach the parachute. It was unavailing and he had +to drop back, hanging below the slender bar. + +Suddenly there came a puff of wind, fanning the faces of those in the +motor-boat, and they looked intently to observe if there was any +current as high as was the balloonist. They saw the big bag sway to +one side and the flames broke out more fiercely as they caught the +draught. The balloon moved slowly down the lake. + +"Keep after it, Tom!" urged his father. "We may be able to save him!" + +The lad increased the speed of his engine and Ned, who was at the +wheel, gave it a little twist. Then, with a suddenness that was +startling, the blazing canvas airship began to settle swiftly toward +the water. It had lost much of its buoyancy. + +"Now he can jump! He's near enough to the water now!" cried Tom. + +But a new danger arose. True, the balloon was rapidly approaching the +surface of the lake and in a few seconds more would be within such a +short distance that a leap would not be fatal. But the burning bag was +coming straight down and scarcely would the man be in the water ere the +fiery canvas mass would be on top of him. + +In such an event he would either be burned to death or so held down +that drowning must quickly follow. + +"If there was only wind enough to carry the balloon beyond him after he +jumped he could do it safely!" cried Ned. + +Tom said nothing. He was measuring, with, his eye, the distance the +balloon had yet to go and also the distance away the motor-boat was +from where it would probably land. + +"He can do it!" exclaimed the young inventor. + +"How?" asked his father. + +For answer Tom caught up a newspaper he had purchased at the hotel that +morning. Rolling it quickly into a cone, so that it formed a rough +megaphone, he put the smaller end to his mouth, and, pointing the +larger opening at the balloonist, he called out: + +"Drop into the lake! We'll pick you up before the bag falls on you! +Jump! Let go now!" + +The balloonist heard and understood. So did Ned and Mr. Swift. Tom's +quick wit had found a way to save the man. + +Faster and faster the blazing bag settled toward the surface of the +water. It was now merely a mushroom-shaped piece of burning and +smoking canvas, yet it was supporting the man almost as a parachute +would have done. + +With one look upward to the burning mass above him and a glance +downward to the lake, the aeronaut let go his hold. Like a shot he +came down, holding his body rigid and straight as a stick, for he knew +how to fall into water, did that balloonist. + +Tom Swift was ready for him. No sooner had the lad called his +directions through the megaphone than the young inventor had speeded up +his engine to the top notch. + +"Steer so as to pick him up!" Tom cried to Ned, who was at the wheel. +"Pass by him on a curve, and, as soon as I grab him, put the wheel over +so as to get out from under the balloon." + +It was a risky thing to do, but our hero had it all planned out. He +made a loop of the boat's painter, and, hurrying to the bow, leaned +over as far as he could, holding the rope in readiness. His idea was +to have the balloonist grab the strands and be pulled out of danger by +the speedy motor-boat, for the blazing canvas would cover such an +extent of water that the man could not have swum out of the danger zone +in time. + +Down shot the balloonist and down more slowly settled the collapsed +bag, yet not so slowly that there was any time to spare. It needed +only a few seconds to drop over the performer, to burn and smother him. + +Into the water splashed the man, disappearing from sight as when a +stick is dropped in, point first. Ned was alert and steered the boat +to the side in which the man's face was, for he concluded that the +aeronaut would strike out in that direction when he came up. The ARROW +was now directly under the blazing balloon and cries of fear from the +watchers on shore urged upon Tom and his companions the danger of their +position. But they had to take some risk to rescue the man. + +"There he is!" cried Mr. Swift, who was on the watch, leaning over the +side of the boat. Tom and Ned saw him at the same instant. Ned +shifted his wheel and the young inventor bent over, holding out the +rope for the man to grasp. He saw it and struck out toward the ARROW. +But there was no need for him to go far. An instant more and the +speeding motor-boat shot past him. He grabbed the rope and Tom, aided +by Mr. Swift, began to lift him out of the water. + +"Quick! To one side, Ned!" yelled Tom, for the heat of the descending +mass of burning canvas struck him like a furnace blast. + +Ned needed no urging. With a swirl of the screw the ARROW shot herself +out of the way, carrying the aeronaut with her. A moment later the +burning balloon, or what there was left of it, settled down into the +lake, hissing angrily as the fire was quenched by the water and +completely covering the spot where, but a few seconds before, the man +had been swimming. He had been saved in the nick of time. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +PLANS FOR AN AIRSHIP + + +"Slow her down, Ned!" cried Tom, for the ARROW was shooting so swiftly +through the water that the young inventor found it impossible to pull +up the balloonist. Ned hurried back to the motor, and, when the boat's +way had been checked, it was an easy matter to pull the dripping and +almost exhausted man into the craft. + +"Are you much hurt?" asked Mr. Swift anxiously, for Tom was too much +out of breath with his exertion to ask any questions. For that matter +the man was in almost as bad a plight. He was breathing heavily, as +one who had run a long race. + +"I--I guess I'm all right," he panted. "Only burned a little on my +hands. That--that was a close call!" + +The boat swung around and headed for shore, on which was quite a throng +of persons. Some of them had cheered when they saw the plucky rescue. + +"I'm afraid we can't save your balloon," gasped Tom as he looked at the +place where the canvas was still floating and burning. + +"No matter. It wasn't worth much. That's the last time I'll ever go +up in a hot-air balloon," said the man with more energy than he had +before exhibited. "I'm done with 'em. I've had my lesson. Hereafter +an aeroplane or a gas balloon for me. I only did this to oblige the +fair committee. I'll not do it again." + +The man spoke in short, crisp sentences, as though he was in too much +of a hurry to waste his words. + +"Let it sink," he went on. "It's no good. Glad to see the last of it." + +Almost as he spoke, with a final hiss and a cloud of steam that mingled +with the black smoke, the remains of the big bag sunk beneath the +surface of the lake. + +"We must get you ashore at once and to a doctor," said Mr. Swift. "You +must be badly burned." + +"Not much. Only my hands, where some burning pieces of canvas fell on' +em. If I had a little oil to put on I'd be all right." + +"I can fix you up better than that," put in Tom. "I have some +Vaseline." + +"Good! Just the thing. Pass it over," and the man, though he spoke +shortly, seemed grateful for the offer. "My name's Sharp," he went on, +"John Sharp, of no place in particular, for I travel all over. I'm a +professional balloonist. Ha! That's the stuff!" + +This last was in reference to a bottle of Vaseline, which Tom produced. +Mr. Sharp spread some over the backs of his hands and went on: + +"That's better. Much obliged. I can't begin to thank you for what you +did for me--saved my life. I thought it was all up with me--would have +been but for you. Mustn't mind my manner--it's a way I have--have to +talk quick when you're balloonin'--no time--but I'm grateful all the +same. Who might you people be?" + +Tom told him their names and Mr. Swift asked the aeronaut if he was +sure he didn't need the services of a physician. + +"No doctor for me," answered the balloonist. "I've been in lots of +tight places, but this was the worst squeeze. If you'll put me ashore, +I guess I can manage now." + +"But you're all wet," objected Tom. "Where will you go? You need some +other clothes," for the man wore a suit of tights and spangles. + +"Oh, I'm used to this," went on the performer. "I frequently have to +fall in the water. I always carry a little money with me so as to get +back to the place where I started from. By the way, where am I?" + +"Opposite Daleton," answered Tom. "Where did you go up from?" + +"Pratonia. Big fair there. I was one of the features." + +"Then you're about fifteen miles away," commented Mr. Swift. "You can +hardly get back before night. Must you go there?" + +"Left my clothes there. Also a valuable gas balloon. No more hot-air +ones for me. Guess I'd better go back," and the aeronaut continued to +speak in his quick, jerky sentences. + +"We'd be very glad to have you come with us, Mr. Sharp," went on the +inventor. "We are not far from Shopton, and if you would like to +remain over night I'm sure we would make you comfortable. You can +proceed to Pratonia in the morning." + +"Thanks. Might not be a bad idea," said Mr. Sharp. "I'm obliged to +you. I've got to go there to collect my money, though I suppose they +won't give it all to me." + +"Why not?" demanded Ned. + +"Didn't drop from my parachute. Couldn't. Fire was one +reason--couldn't reach the parachute, and if I could have, guess it +wouldn't have been safe. Parachute probably was burned too. But I'm +done with hot-air balloons though I guess I said that before." + +The boys were much interested in the somewhat odd performer, and, on +his part, he seemed to take quite a notion to Tom, who told him of +several things that he had invented. "Well," remarked Mr. Swift after a +while, during which the boat had been moving slowly down the lake, "if +we are not to go ashore for a doctor for you, Mr. Sharp, suppose we put +on more speed and get to my home? I'm anxious about a robbery that +occurred there," and he related some facts in the case. + +"Speed her up!" exclaimed Mr. Sharp. "Wish I could help you catch the +scoundrels, but afraid I can't--hands too sore," and he looked at his +burns. Then he told how he had made the ascension from the Pratonia +fair grounds and how, when he was high in the air, he had discovered +that the balloon was on fire. He described his sensations and told how +he thought his time had surely come. Sparks from the hot air used to +inflate it probably caused the blaze, he said. + +"I've made a number of trips," he concluded, "hot air and gas bags, but +this was the worst ever. It got on my nerves for a few minutes," he +added coolly. + +"I should think it would," agreed Tom as he speeded up the motor and +sent the ARROW on her homeward way. + +The boys and Mr. Swift were much interested in the experiences of the +balloonist and asked him many questions, which he answered modestly. +Several hours passed and late that afternoon the party approached +Shopton. + +"Here we are!" exclaimed Mr. Swift, relief in his tones. "Now to see +of what I have been robbed and to get the police after the scoundrels!" + +When the boat was nearing the dock Mr. Sharp, who had been silent for +some time, suddenly turned to Tom and asked: + +"Ever invent an airship?" + +"No," replied the lad, somewhat surprised. "I never did." + +"I have," went on the balloonist. "That is, I've invented part of it. +I'm stuck over some details. Maybe you and I'll finish it some day. +How about it?" + +"Maybe," assented Tom, who was occupied just then in making a good +landing. "I am interested in airships, but I never thought I could +build one." + +"Easiest thing in the world," went on Mr. Sharp, as if it was an +everyday matter. "You and I will get busy as soon as we clear up this +robbery." He talked as though he had been a friend of the family for +some time, for he had a genial, taking manner. + +A little later Mr. Swift was excitedly questioning Garret Jackson +concerning the robbery and making an examination of the electrical shop +to discover what was missing. + +"They've taken some parts of my gyroscope!" he exclaimed, "and some +valuable tools and papers, as well as some unfinished work that will be +difficult to replace." + +"Much of a loss?" asked Mr. Sharp with a business-like air. + +"Well, not so large as regards money," answered the inventor, "but they +took things I can never replace, and I will miss them very much if I +cannot get them back." + +"Then we'll get them back!" snapped the balloonist, as if that was all +there was to it. + +The police were called up on the telephone and the facts given to them, +as well as a description of the stolen things. They promised to do +what they could, but, in the light of past experiences, Tom and his +father did not think this would be much. There was little more that +could be done that evening. Ned Newton went to his home, and, after +Mr. Swift had insisted in calling in his physician to look after Mr. +Sharp's burns the balloonist was given a room next to Tom's. Then the +Swift household settled down. + +"Well," remarked Tom to his father, as he got ready for bed, "this sure +has been an exciting day." + +"And my loss is a serious one," added the inventor somewhat sadly. + +"Don't worry, dad," begged his son. "I'll do my best to recover those +things for you." + +Several days passed, but there was no clew to the thieves. That they +were the same ones who had stolen the turbine model there was little +doubt, but they seemed to have covered their tracks well. The police +were at a loss, and, though Tom and Mr. Sharp cruised about the lake, +they could get no trace of the men. The balloonist had sent to +Pratonia for his clothing and other baggage and was now installed in +the Swift home, where he was invited to stay a week or two. + +One night when he was looking over some papers he had taken from his +trunk the balloonist came over to where Tom was making a drawing of a +new machine he was planning and said: + +"Like to see my idea for an airship? Different from some. It's a +dirigible balloon with an aeroplane front and rear to steer and balance +it in big winds. It would be a winner, only for one thing. Maybe you +can help me." + +"Maybe I can," agreed Tom, who was at once interested. + +"We ought to be able to do something. Look at our names--Swift and +Sharp--quick and penetrating--a good firm to build airships," and he +laughed genially. "Shall we do it?" + +"I'm willing," agreed Tom, and the balloonist spread his plans out on +the table, he and the young inventor soon being deep in a discussion of +them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE MYSTERY SOLVED + + +From then on, for several days, the young inventor and his new friend +lived in an atmosphere of airships. They talked them from morning +until night, and even Mr. Swift, much as he was exercised over his +loss, took part in the discussions. + +In the meanwhile efforts had not ceased to locate the robbers and +recover the stolen goods, but so far without success. + +One afternoon, about two weeks after the thrilling rescue of John +Sharp, Tom said to the balloonist: + +"Wouldn't you like to come for a ride in the motor-boat? Maybe it will +help us to solve the puzzle of the airship. We'll take a trip across +and up the opposite shore." + +"Good idea," commented Mr. Sharp. "Fine day for a sail. Come on. +Blow the cobwebs from our brains." + +Mr. Swift declined an invitation to accompany them, as he said he would +stay home and try to straighten out his affairs, which were somewhat +muddled by the robbery. + +Out over the blue waters of Lake Carlopa shot the ARROW. It was making +only moderate speed, as Tom was in no hurry, and he knew his engine +would last longer if not forced too frequently. They glided along, +crossed the lake and were proceeding up the opposite shore when, as +they turned out from a little bay and rounded a point of land, Mr. +Sharp exclaimed: + +"Look out, Tom, there's rowboat just ahead!" + +"Oh, I'll pass well to one side of that," answered the young inventor, +looking at the craft. As he did so, noting that there were four men in +it, one of the occupants caught a glimpse of the ARROW. No sooner had +he done so than he spoke to his companions, and they all turned to +stare at Tom. At first the lad could scarcely believe his eyes, but as +he looked more intently he uttered a cry. + +"There they are!" + +"Who?" inquired Mr. Sharp. + +"Those men--the thieves! We must catch them!" + +Tom had spoken loudly, but even though the men in the rowboat did hear +what he said, they would have realized without that that they were +about to be pursued, for there was no mistaking the attitude of our +hero. + +Two of the thieves were at the oars, and, with one accord, they at once +increased their speed. The boat swung about sharply and was headed for +the shore, which they seemed to have come from only a short time +previous, as the craft was not far out in the lake. + +"No, you don't!" cried Tom. "I see your game! You want to get to the +woods, where you'll have a better chance to escape! If this isn't +great luck, coming upon them this way!" + +It was the work of but a moment to speed up the engine and head the +ARROW for the rowboat. The men were pulling frantically, but they had +no chance. + +"Get between them and the shore!" cried Mr. Sharp. "You can head them +off then." This was good advice and Tom followed it. The men, among +whom the lad could recognize Happy Harry and Anson Morse, were all +excited. Two of them stood up, as though to jump overboard, but their +companions called to them to stop. + +"If we only had a gun now, not to shoot at them but to intimidate +them," murmured the balloonist, "maybe they'd stop." + +"Here's one," answered Tom, pointing to the seat locker, where he kept +the shotgun Mr. Duncan had given him. In a moment Mr. Sharp had it out. + +"Surrender!" he cried, pointing the weapon at the men in the small boat. + +"Don't shoot! Don't fire on us! We'll give up!" cried Happy Harry, +and the two with the oars ceased pulling. + +"Don't take any chances," urged Mr. Sharp in a low voice. "Keep +between them and the shore. I'll cover them." Tom was steering from +an auxiliary side wheel near the motor, and soon the ARROW had cut off +the retreat of the men. They could not land and to row across the lake +meant speedy capture. + +"Well, what do you want of us?" growled Morse. "What right have you +got to interfere with us in this fashion?" + +"The best of right," answered Tom. "You'll find out when you're landed +in jail." + +"You can't arrest us," sneered Happy Harry. "You're not an officer and +you haven't any warrant." + +Tom hadn't thought of that, and his chagrin showed in his face. Happy +Harry was quick to see it. + +"You'd better let us go," he threatened "We can have you arrested for +bothering us. You haven't any right to stop us, Tom Swift." + +"Maybe he hasn't, but I have!" exclaimed John Sharp suddenly. + +"You! Who are you?" demanded Featherton, alias Simpson, the man who +had run the automobile that carried Tom away. + +"Me. I'm a special deputy sheriff for this county," answered the +balloonist simply. "Here's my badge," and, throwing back his coat, he +displayed it. "You see I got the appointment in order to have some +authority in the crowds that gather to watch me go up," he explained to +Tom, who plainly showed his astonishment. "I found it very useful to +be able to threaten arrest, but in this case I'll do more than +threaten. You are my prisoners," he went on to the men in the boat, +and he handled the shotgun as if he knew how to use it. "I'll take you +into custody on complaint of Mr. Swift for robbery. Now will you go +quietly or are you going to make a fuss?" and Mr. Sharp shut his jaw +grimly. + +"Well, seeing as how you have the drop on us, I guess we'll have to do +as you say," admitted Happy Harry, alias Jim Burke. "But you can't +prove anything against us. We haven't any of Mr. Swift's property." + +"Well, you know where it is then," retorted Tom quickly. + +Under the restraining influence of the gun the men made no resistance. +While Mr. Sharp covered them, Tom towed their boat toward shore. Then, +while the young inventor held the gun, the balloonist tied the hands +and feet of the thieves in a most scientific manner, for what he did +not know about ropes and knots was not worth putting into a book. + +"Now, I guess they'll stay quiet for a while," remarked Mr. Sharp as he +surveyed the crestfallen criminals. "I'll remain on guard here, Tom, +while you go notify the nearest constable and we'll take them to jail. +We bagged the whole lot as neatly as could be desired." + +"No, you didn't get all of us!" exclaimed Happy Harry, and there was a +savage anger in his tones. + +"Keep quiet!" urged Morse. + +"No, I'll not keep quiet! It's a shame that we have to take our +medicine while that trimmer, Tod Boreck, goes free. He ought to have +been with us, and he would be, only he's trying to get away with that +sparkler!" + +"Keep quiet," again urged Morse. + +Tom was all attention. He had caught the word "sparkler," and he at +once associated it with the occasion he had heard the men use it +before. He felt that he was on the track of solving the mystery +connected with his boat. + +He looked at the men. They were the same four who had been involved in +the former theft--Appleson, Featherton, Morse and Burke. Were there +five of them? He recalled the man who had been caught tampering with +his boat--the man who had tried to bid on the ARROW at the auction. +Where was he? + +"Boreck didn't get what he was after," resumed Happy Harry, "and I'm +going to spoil his game for him. Say, kid," he went on to Tom, "look +in the front part of your boat--where the gasoline tank is." + +Tom felt his heart beating fast. At last he felt that he would solve +the puzzle. He opened the forward compartment. To his disappointment +it seemed as usual. Morse and the others were making a vain effort to +silence Happy Harry. + +"I don't see anything here," said Tom. + +"No, because it's hidden in one of those blocks of wood you use for a +brace," continued the man. "Which one it is, Boreck didn't know, so he +pulled out two or three, only to be fooled each time. You must have +shifted them, kid, from the way they were when we had the boat." + +"I did," answered the young inventor, recollecting how he had taken out +some of the braces and inserted new ones, then painted the interior of +the compartment. "What is in the braces, anyhow?" + +"The sparkler--a big diamond--in a hollow place in the wood, kid!" +exclaimed Happy Harry, blurting out the words. "I'm not going to let +Tod Boreck get away with it while we stay in jail." + +"Take out all the braces that haven't been moved and have a look," +suggested Mr. Sharp. Tom only had to remove two, those farthest back, +for all the others had, at one time or another, been changed or taken +away by the thief. + +One of the blocks did not seem to have anything unusual about it, but +at the sight of the other Tom could not repress a cry. It was the one +that seemed to have had a hole bored in it and then plugged up again. +He remembered his father noticing it on the occasion of overhauling the +boat. + +"The sparkler's in there," said the tramp as he saw the brace. "Boreck +was after it several times, but he never pulled out the right one." + +With his knife Tom dug out the putty that covered the round hole in the +block. No sooner had he done so than there rolled out into his hand a +white object. It was something done up in tissue paper, and as he +removed the wrapper, there was a flash in the sunlight and a large, +beautiful diamond was revealed. The mystery had been solved. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +WINNING A RACE + + +"Where did this diamond come from?" demanded Mr. Sharp of the quartette +of criminals. + +"That's for us to know and you to find out," sneered Happy Harry. "I +don't care as long as that trimmer Boreck didn't get it. He tried to +do us out of our share." + +"Well, I guess the police will make you tell," went on the balloonist. +"Go for the constable, Tom." + +Leaving his friend to guard the ugly men, who for a time at least were +beyond the possibility of doing harm, Tom hurried off through the woods +to the nearest village. There he found an officer and the gang was +soon lodged in jail. The diamond was turned over to the authorities, +who said they would soon locate the owner. + +Nor were they long in doing it, for it appeared the gem was part of a +large jewel robbery that had taken place some time before in a distant +city. The Happy Harry gang, as the men came to be called, were +implicated in it, though they got only a small share of the plunder. +Search was made for Tod Boreck and he was captured about a week after +his companions. Seeing that their game was up, the men made a partial +confession, telling where Mr. Swift's goods had been secreted, and the +inventor's valuable tools, papers and machinery were recovered, no +damage having been done to them. + +It developed that after the diamond theft, and when the gang still had +possession of Mr. Hastings' boat, Boreck, sometimes called Murdock by +his cronies, unknown to them, had secreted the jewel in one of the +braces under the gasoline tank. He expected to get it out secretly, +but the capture of the gang and the sale of the boat prevented this. +Then he tried to buy the craft to take out the diamond, but Tom overbid +him. It was Boreck who found Andy's bunch of keys and used one to open +the compartment lock when Tom surprised him. The man did manage to +remove some of the blocks, thinking he had the one with the diamond in +it, but the fact of Tom changing them, and painting the compartment +deceived him. The gang hoped to get some valuables from Mr. Swift's +shops, and, to a certain extent, succeeded after hanging around for +several nights and following him to Sandport, but Tom eventually proved +too much for them. Even stealing the Arrow, which was taken to aid the +gang in robbing Mr. Swift, did not succeed, and Boreck's plan then to +get possession of the diamond fell through. + +It was thought that the gang would get long terms in prison, but one +night, during a violent storm, they escaped from the local jail and +that was the last seen of them for some time. + +A few days after the capture as Tom was in the boathouse making some +minor repairs to the motor he heard a voice calling: + +"Mistah Swift, am yo' about?" + +"Hello, Rad, is that you?" he inquired, recognizing the voice of the +colored owner of the mule Boomerang. + +"Yais, sa, dat's me. I got a lettah fo' yo'. I were passin' de +post-office an' de clerk asted me to brung it to yo' 'case as how it's +marked 'hurry,' an' he said he hadn't seen yo' to-day." + +"That's right. I've been so busy I haven't had time to go for the +mail," and Tom took the letter, giving Eradicate ten cents for his +trouble. + +"Ha, that's good!" exclaimed Tom as he read it. + +"Hab some one done gone an' left yo' a fortune, Mistah Swift?" asked +the negro. + +"No, but it's almost as good. It's an invitation to take part in the +motor-boat races next week. I'd forgotten all about them. I must get +ready." + +"Good land! Dat's all de risin' generation t'inks about now," observed +Eradicate, "racin' an' goin' fast. Mah ole mule Boomerang am good +enough fo' me," and, shaking his head in a woeful manner, Eradicate +went on his way. + +Tom told Mr. Sharp and his father of the proposed races of the Lanton +Motor-boat Club, and, as it was required that two persons be in a craft +the size of the ARROW, the young inventor arranged for the balloonist +to accompany him. Our hero spent the next few days in tuning up his +motor and in getting the ARROW ready for the contest. + +The races took place on that side of Lake Carlopa near where Mr. +Hastings lived, and he was one of the officials of the club. There +were several classes, graded according to the horsepower of the motors, +and Tom found himself in a class with Andy Foger. + +"Here's where I beat you," boasted the red-haired youth exultantly, +though his manner toward Tom was more temperate than usual. Andy had +learned a lesson. + +"Well, if you can beat me I'll give you credit for it," answered Tom. + +The first race was for high-powered craft, and in this Mr. Hastings' +new CARLOPA won. Then came the trial of the small boats, and Tom was +pleased to note that Miss Nestor was on hand in the tiny DOT. + +"Good luck!" he called to her as he was adjusting his timer, for his +turn would come soon. "Remember what I told you about the spark," for +he had given her a few lessons. + +"If I win it will be due to you," she called brightly. + +She did win, coming in ahead of several confident lads who had better +boats. But Miss Nestor handled the DOT to perfection and crossed the +line a boat's length ahead of her nearest competitor. + +"Fine!" cried Tom, and then came the warning gun that told him to get +ready for his trial. + +This was a five-mile race and had several entrants. The affair was a +handicap one and Tom had no reason to complain of the rating allowed +him. + +"Crack!" went the starting pistol and away went Tom and one or two +others who had the same allowance as did he. A little later the others +started and finally the last class, including Andy Foger. The RED +STREAK shot ahead and was soon in the lead, for Andy and Sam had +learned better how to handle their craft. Tom and Mr. Sharp were +worried, but they stuck grimly to the race and when the turning stake +was reached Tom's motor had so warmed up and was running so well that +he crept up on Andy. A mile from the final mark Andy and Tom were on +even terms, and though the red-haired lad tried to shake off his rival +he could not. Andy's ignition system failed him several times and he +changed from batteries to magneto and back again in the hope of getting +a little more speed out of the motor. + +But it was not to be. A half-mile away from the finish Tom, who had +fallen behind a little, crept up on even terms. Then he slowly forged +ahead, and, a hundred rods from the stake, the young inventor knew that +the race was his. He clinched it a few minutes later, crossing the +line amid a burst of cheers. The ARROW had beaten several boats out of +her own class and Tom was very proud and happy. + +"My, but we certainly did scoot along some!" cried Mr. Sharp. "But +that's nothing to how we'll go when we build our airship, eh, Tom?" and +he looked at the flushed face of the lad. + +"No, indeed," agreed the young inventor. "But I don't know that we'll +take part in any races in it. We'll build it, however, as soon as we +can solve that one difficulty." + +They did solve it, as will be told in the next book of this series, to +be called "Tom Swift and His Airship; or, The Stirring Cruise of the +RED CLOUD." They had some remarkable adventures in the wonderful +craft, and solved the mystery of a great bank robbery. + +This ended the contests of the motor-boats and the little fleet crowded +up to the floats and docks, where the prizes were to be awarded. Tom +received a handsome silver cup and Miss Nestor a gold bracelet. + +"Now I want all the contestants, winners and losers, to come up to my +house and have lunch," invited Mr. Hastings. + +As Tom and the balloonist strolled up the walk to the handsome house +Andy Foger passed them. + +"You wouldn't have beaten me if my spark coil hadn't gone back on me," +he said, somewhat sneeringly. + +"Maybe," admitted Tom, and just then he caught sight of Mary Nestor. +"May I take you in to lunch?" he asked. + +"Yes," she said, "because you helped me to win," and she blushed +prettily. And then they all sat down to the tables set out on the +lawn, while Tom looked so often at Mary Nestor that Mr. Sharp said +afterward it was a wonder he found time to eat. 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