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