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wreck an automobile or a wagon。 Maybe tramps did it for spite。〃
〃Maybe some one done it to make yo' hab trouble； Mistah Swift。〃
〃No； I hardly think so。 I don't know of any one who would want to
make trouble for me； and how would they know I was coming this way…'
Tom suddenly checked himself。 The memory of the scene at the
auction came back to him and he recalled what Andy Foger had said about
〃'getting even。〃
〃Which way did dat auto go？〃 resumed Eradicate。
〃It came from down the road；〃 answered Tom； not completing the
sentence he had left unfinished。 〃They dragged the log up to the foot of
the hill and left it。 Then the auto went down this way。〃 It was
comparatively easy； for a lad of such sharp observation as was Tom； to
trace the movements of the vehicle。
〃Den if it's down heah； maybe we cotch 'em；〃 suggested the colored
man。
The young inventor did not answer at once。 He was hurrying along；
his eyes on the telltale marks。 He had proceeded some distance from the
place where the log was when he uttered a cry。 At the same moment he
hurried from the road toward a thick clump of bushes that were in the
ditch alongside of the highway。 Reaching them； he parted the leaves and
called：
〃Here's the auto； Rad！〃
The colored man ran up； his eyes wider open than ever。 There；
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
hidden amid the bushes； was a large touring car。
〃Whose am dat？〃 asked Eradicate。
Tom did not answer。 He penetrated the underbrush； noting where the
broken branches had been bent upright after the forced entrance of the car；
the better to hide it。 The young inventor was； seeking some clew to
discover the owner of the machine。 To this end he climbed up in the
tonneau and was looking about when some one burst in through the screen
of bushes and a voice cried： 〃Here； you get out of my car！〃
。〃Oh； is it your car； Andy Foger？〃 asked Tom calmly as he recognized
his squint…eyed rival。 〃I was just beginning to think it was。 Allow me
to return your wrench；〃 and he held out the one he had picked up near the
log。 〃The next time you drag trees across the road；〃 went on the lad in
the tonneau； facing the angry and dismayed Andy； 〃I'd advise you to post a
notice at the top of the hill； so persons riding down will not be injured。〃
〃Notice… road…hill…logs！〃 stammered Andy； turning red under his
freckles。
〃That's what I said；〃 replied Tom coolly。
〃I…I didn't have anything to do with putting a log across any road；〃
mumbled the bully。 〃I…I've been off toward the creek。〃
〃Have you？〃 asked Tom with a peculiar smile。
〃I thought you might have been looking for the wrench you dropped
near the log。 You should be more careful and so should Sam Snedecker；
who's hiding outside the bushes；〃 went on our hero； for he had caught
sight of the form of Andy's crony。 〃I…I told him not to do it！〃 exclaimed
Sam as he came from his hiding place。
〃Shut up！〃 exclaimed Andy desperately。
〃Oh； I think I know your secret；〃 continued the young inventor。 〃You
wanted to get even with me for outbidding you on the motor… boat。 You
watched which road I took； and then； in your auto； you came a shorter way；
ahead of me。 You hauled the log across the foot of the hill； hoping； I
suppose； that my machine would be broken。 But； let me tell you； it was a
risky trick。 Not only might I have been killed； but so would whoever else
who happened to drive down the slope over the log； whether in a wagon or
automobile。 Fortunately Eradicate discovered it in time and warned me。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
I ought to have you arrested； but you're not worth it。 A good thrashing is
what such sneaks as you deserve！〃
〃You haven't got any evidence against us；〃 sneered Andy confidently；
his old bravado coming back。
〃I have all I want；〃 replied Tom。 〃You needn't worry。 I'm not going
to tell the police。 But you've got to do one thing or I'll make you sorry
you ever tried this trick。 Eradicate will help me； to don't think you're
going to escape。〃
〃You get out of my automobile！〃 demanded Andy。 〃I'll have you
arrested if you don't。〃
〃I'll get out because I'm ready to； but not on account of your threats；〃
retorted Mr。 Swift's son。 〃Here's your wrench。 Now I want you and
Sam to start up this machine and haul that log out of the way。〃
〃S'pose I won't do it？〃 snapped Andy。
〃Then I'll cause your arrest； besides thrashing you into the bargain！
You can take your choice of removing the log so travelers can pass or
having a good hiding； you and Sam。 Eradicate； you take Sam and I'll
tackle Andy。〃
〃Don't you dare touch me！〃 cried the bully； but there was a whine in
his tones。
〃You let me alone or I'll tell my father！〃 added Sam。 〃I…I didn't
have nothin' to do with it； anyhow。 I told Andy it would make trouble；
but he made me help him。〃
〃Say； what's the matter with you？〃 demanded Andy indignantly of his
crony。 〃Do you want to…〃
〃I wish I'd never come with you；〃 went on Sam； who was beginning to
be frightened。
〃Come now。 Start up that machine and haul the log out of the way；〃
demanded Tom again。
〃I won't do it I〃 retorted the red…haired lad impudently。
〃Yes； you will；〃 insisted our hero； and he took a step toward the bully。
They were out of the clump of bushes now and in the roadside ditch。
〃You let me alone；〃 almost screamed Andy； and in his baffled rage he
rushed at Tom； aiming a blow。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
The young inventor quickly stepped to one side； and； as the bully
passed him； Tom sent out a neat left…hander。 Andy Foger went down in a
heap on the grass。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
CHAPTER V
A TEST OF SPEED
Whether Tom or Andy was the most surprised at the happening would
be hard to say。 The former had not meant to hit so hard and he certainly
did not intend to knock the squint…eyed youth down。 The latter's fall was
due； as much as anything； to his senseless； rushing tactics and to the fact
that he slipped on the green grass。 The bully was up in a moment；
however； but he knew better than to try conclusions with Tom again。
Instead he stood out of reach and spluttered：
〃You just wait； Tom Swift！ You just wait！〃
〃Well； I'm waiting；〃 responded the other calmly。
〃I'll get even with you；〃 went on Andy。 〃You think you're smart
because you got ahead of me； but I'll get square！〃
〃Look here！〃 burst out the young inventor determinedly； taking a step
toward his antagonist； at which Andy quickly retreated； 〃I don't want any
more of that talk from you； Andy Foger。 That's twice you've made
threats against me today。 You put that log across the road； and if you try
anything like it for your second attempt I'll make you wish you hadn't。
That applies to you； too； Sam；〃 he added； glancing at the other lad。
〃I…I ain't gone' to do nothin'；〃 declared Sam。
〃I told Andy not to put that tree…〃
〃Keep still； can't you！〃 shouted the bully。 〃Come on。 We'll get even
with him； that's all；〃 he muttered as he went back into the bushes where
the auto was。 Andy cranked up and he and his crony getting into the car
were about to start off。
〃Hold on！〃 cried Tom。 〃You'll take that log from across the road or
I'll have you arrested for obstructing traffic； and that's a serious offense。〃
〃I'm goin' to take it away！〃 growled Andy。 〃Give a fellow a show