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clothing and other baggage and was now installed in the Swift home；
where he was invited to stay a week or two。
One night when he was looking over some papers he had taken from
his trunk the balloonist came over to where Tom was making a drawing of
a new machine he was planning and said：
〃Like to see my idea for an airship？ Different from some。 It's a
dirigible balloon with an aeroplane front and rear to steer and balance it in
big winds。 It would be a winner； only for one thing。 Maybe you can
help me。〃
〃Maybe I can；〃 agreed Tom； who was at once interested。
〃We ought to be able to do something。 Look at our names…Swift
and Sharp…quick and penetrating…a good firm to build airships；〃 and he
laughed genially。 〃Shall we do it？〃
〃I'm willing；〃 agreed Tom； and the balloonist spread his plans out on
the table； he and the young inventor soon being deep in a discussion of
them。
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CHAPTER XXIV
THE MYSTERY SOLVED
》From then on； for several days； the young inventor and his new
friend lived in an atmosphere of airships。 They talked them from
morning until night； and even Mr。 Swift； much as he was exercised over
his loss； took part in the discussions。
In the meanwhile efforts had not ceased to locate the robbers and
recover the stolen goods； but so far without success。
One afternoon； about two weeks after the thrilling rescue of John
Sharp； Tom said to the balloonist：
〃Wouldn't you like to come for a ride in the motor…boat？ Maybe it
will help us to solve the puzzle of the airship。 We'll take a trip across and
up the opposite shore。〃
〃Good idea；〃 commented Mr。 Sharp。 〃Fine day for a sail。 Come on。
Blow the cobwebs from our brains。〃
Mr。 Swift declined an invitation to accompany them； as he said he
would stay home and try to straighten out his affairs； which were
somewhat muddled by the robbery。
Out over the blue waters of Lake Carlopa shot the ARROW。 It was
making only moderate speed； as Tom was in no hurry； and he knew his
engine would last longer if not forced too frequently。 They glided along；
crossed the lake and were proceeding up the opposite shore when； as they
turned out from a little bay and rounded a point of land； Mr。 Sharp
exclaimed：
〃Look out； Tom； there's rowboat just ahead！〃
〃Oh； I'll pass well to one side of that；〃 answered the young inventor；
looking at the craft。 As he did so； noting that there were four men in it；
one of the occupants caught a glimpse of the ARROW。 No sooner had he
done so than he spoke to his companions； and they all turned to stare at
Tom。 At first the lad could scarcely believe his eyes； but as he looked
more intently he uttered a cry。
〃There they are！〃
〃Who？〃 inquired Mr。 Sharp。
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〃Those men…the thieves！ We must catch them！〃
Tom had spoken loudly； but even though the men in the rowboat did
hear what he said； they would have realized without that that they were
about to be pursued； for there was no mistaking the attitude of our hero。
Two of the thieves were at the oars； and； with one accord； they at once
increased their speed。 The boat swung about sharply and was headed for
the shore； which they seemed to have come from only a short time
previous； as the craft was not far out in the lake。
〃No； you don't！〃 cried Tom。 〃I see your game！ You want to get to the
woods； where you'll have a better chance to escape！ If this isn't great
luck； coming upon them this way！〃
It was the work of but a moment to speed up the engine and head the
ARROW for the rowboat。 The men were pulling frantically； but they had
no chance。
〃Get between them and the shore！〃 cried Mr。 Sharp。 〃You can head
them off then。〃 This was good advice and Tom followed it。 The men；
among whom the lad could recognize Happy Harry and Anson Morse；
were all excited。 Two of them stood up； as though to jump overboard；
but their companions called to them to stop。
〃If we only had a gun now； not to shoot at them but to intimidate
them；〃 murmured the balloonist； 〃maybe they'd stop。〃
〃Here's one；〃 answered Tom； pointing to the seat locker； where he kept
the shotgun Mr。 Duncan had given him。 In a moment Mr。 Sharp had it
out。
〃Surrender！〃 he cried； pointing the weapon at the men in the small
boat。
〃Don't shoot！ Don't fire on us！ We'll give up！〃 cried Happy Harry；
and the two with the oars ceased pulling。
〃Don't take any chances；〃 urged Mr。 Sharp in a low voice。 〃Keep
between them and the shore。 I'll cover them。〃 Tom was steering from
an auxiliary side wheel near the motor； and soon the ARROW had cut off
the retreat of the men。 They could not land and to row across the lake
meant speedy capture。
〃Well； what do you want of us？〃 growled Morse。 〃What right have
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
you got to interfere with us in this fashion？〃
〃The best of right；〃 answered Tom。 〃You'll find out when you're
landed in jail。〃
〃You can't arrest us；〃 sneered Happy Harry。 〃You're not an officer
and you haven't any warrant。〃
Tom hadn't thought of that； and his chagrin showed in his face。 Happy
Harry was quick to see it。
〃You'd better let us go；〃 he threatened 〃We can have you arrested for
bothering us。 You haven't any right to stop us； Tom Swift。〃
〃Maybe he hasn't； but I have！〃 exclaimed John Sharp suddenly。
〃You！ Who are you？〃 demanded Featherton； alias Simpson； the man
who had run the automobile that carried Tom away。
〃Me。 I'm a special deputy sheriff for this county；〃 answered the
balloonist simply。 〃Here's my badge；〃 and； throwing back his coat； he
displayed it。 〃You see I got the appointment in order to have some
authority in the crowds that gather to watch me go up；〃 he explained to
Tom； who plainly showed his astonishment。 〃I found it very useful to be
able to threaten arrest； but in this case I'll do more than threaten。 You are
my prisoners；〃 he went on to the men in the boat； and he handled the
shotgun as if he knew how to use it。 〃I'll take you into custody on
complaint of Mr。 Swift for robbery。 Now will you go quietly or are you
going to make a fuss？〃 and Mr。 Sharp shut his jaw grimly。
〃Well； seeing as how you have the drop on us； I guess we'll have to do
as you say；〃 admitted Happy Harry； alias Jim Burke。 〃But you can't
prove anything against us。 We haven't any of Mr。 Swift's property。〃
〃Well； you know where it is then；〃 retorted Tom quickly。
Under the restraining influence of the gun the men made no resistance。
While Mr。 Sharp covered them； Tom towed their boat toward shore。
Then； while the young inventor held the gun； the balloonist tied the hands
and feet of the thieves in a most scientific manner； for what he did not
know about ropes and knots was not worth putting into a book。
〃Now； I guess they'll stay quiet for a while；〃 remarked Mr。 Sharp as he
surveyed the crestfallen criminals。 〃I'll remain on guard here； Tom； while
you go notify the nearest constable and we'll take them to jail。 We
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bagged the whole lot as neatly as could be desired。〃
〃No； you didn't get all of us！〃 exclaimed Happy Harry； and there was a
savage anger in his tones。
〃Keep quiet！〃 urged Morse。
〃