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