按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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。
8
… Page 9…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
〃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
9
… Page 10…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
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。
10
… Page 11…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
〃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。
11
… Page 12…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
〃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 bad 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