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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
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
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
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
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。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
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 to1now。〃
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。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
〃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