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