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〃I'm goin' to take it away！〃 growled Andy。 〃Give a fellow a show
can't you？〃
He cast an ugly look at Tom； but the latter only smiled。 It was no
easy task for Sam and Andy to pull the log out of the way； as they could
hardly lift it to slip the rope under。 But they finally managed it； and； by
the power of the car； hauled it to one side。 Then they speed off。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
〃I 'clar t' gracious； dem young fellers am most as mean an' contrary as
mah mule Boomerang am sometimes；〃 observed Eradicate。 〃Only
Boomerang ain't quite so mean as dat。〃
〃I should hope not； Rad；〃 observed Tom。 〃I'm ever so much obliged
for your warning。 I guess I'll be getting； home now。 Come around next
week； we have some work for you。〃
〃 'Deed an' I will；〃 replied the colored man。 〃I'll come around an'
eradicate all de dirt on yo' place； Mistah Swift。 Yais； sah； I's Eradicate by
name； and dat's my perfession…eradicatin' dirt。 Much obleeged； I'll call
around。 Giddap； Boomerang！〃
The mule lazily flicked his ears； but did not stir； and Tom； knowing the
process of arousing the animal would take some time； hurried up the hill to
where he had left his motor…cycle。 Eradicate was still engaged on the task
of trying to arouse his steed to a sense of its duty when the young inventor
fIashed by on his way home。
〃So now you own a broken motor…boat；〃 observed Mr。 Swift when
Tom had related the circumstances of the auction。 〃Well； now you have
it； what are you going to do with it？〃
〃Fix it； first of all；〃 replied his son。 〃It needs considerable tinkering
up； but nothing but what I can do； if you'll help me。〃
〃Of course I will。 Do you think you can get any speed out of it？〃
〃Well； I'm not so anxious for speed。 I wart a good； comfortable boat；
and the ARROW will be that。 I've named it； you see。 I'm going back to
Lanton this afternoon； take some tools along； and repair it so I can run the
boat over to here。 Then I'll get at it and fix it up。 I've got a plan for you；
dad。〃
〃What is it？〃 asked the inventor； his rather tired face lighting up with
interest。
〃I'm going to take you on a vacation trip。〃
〃A vacation trip？〃
〃Yes； you need a rest。 You've been working； too hard over that
gyroscope invention。〃
〃Yes； Tom； I think I have；〃 admitted Mr。 Swift。 〃But I am very much
interested in it； and l think I can get it to work。 If I do it will make a
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
great difference in the control of aeroplanes。 It will make them more
stable able to fly in almost any wind。 But I certainly have puzzled my
brains over some features of it。 However； I don't quite see what you
mean。〃
〃You need a rest； dad；〃 said Mr。 Swift's son kindly。 〃I want you to
forget all about patents； invention； machinery and even the gyroscope for a
week or two。 When I get my motor…boat in shape I'm going to take you
and Ned Newton up the lake for a cruise。 We can camp out； or； if we had
to； we could sleep in the boat。 I'm going to put a canopy on it and
arrange some bunks。 It will do you good and perhaps new ideas for your
gyroscope may come to you after a rest。〃
〃Perhaps they will； Tom。 I am certainly tired enough to need a
vacation。 It's very kind of you to think of me in connection with your
boat。 But if you're going to get it this afternoon you'd better start if you
expect to get back by night。 I think Mrs。 Baggert has dinner ready。〃
After the meal Tom selected a number of tools from his； own
particular machine shop and carried them down to the dock on the lake；
where his two small boats were tied。
〃Aren't you going back on your motor…cycle〃 asked his father。 〃No；
Dad； I'm going to row over to Lanton； and； if I can get the ARROW fixed；
'I'll tow my rowboat back。〃
〃Very well； then you won't be in any danger from Andy Foger。 I must
speak to his father about him。〃
〃No； dad； don't；〃 exclaimed the young inventor quickly。 〃I can fight
my own battles with Andy。 I don't fancy he will bother me again right
away。〃
Tom found it more of a task than he had anticipated to get the motor in
shape to run the ARROW back under her own power。 The magneto was
out of order and the batteries needed renewing； while the spark coil had
short…circuited and took considerable time to adjust。 But by using some
new dry cells； which Mr。 Hastings gave him； and cutting out the magneto；
or small dynamo which produces the spark that exploded the gasoline in
the cylinders； Tom soon had a fine； 〃fat〃 hot spark from the auxiliary
ignition system。 Then； adjusting the timer and throttle on the engine and
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
seeing that the gasoline tank was filled； the lad started up his motor。 Mr。
Hastings helped him； but after a few turns of the flywheel there were no
explosions。 Finally； after the carburetor （which is the device where
gasoline is mixed with air to produce an explosive mixture） had been
adjusted； the motor started off as if it had intended to do so all the while
and was only taking its time about it。
〃The machine doesn't run as smooth as it ought to；〃 commented Mr。
Hastings。 〃No； it needs a thorough overhauling；〃 agreed the owner of the
ARROW。 〃I'll get at it tomorrow；〃 and with that he swung out into the
lake； towing his rowboat after him。
〃A motor…boat of my own！〃 exulted Tom as he twirled the steering
wheel and noted how readily the craft answered her helm。 〃This is
great！〃
He steered down the lake and then； turning around； went up it a mile
or more before heading for his own dock； as he wanted to see how the
engine behaved。
〃With some changes and adjustments I can make this a speedy boat；〃
thought Tom。 〃I'll get right at it。 I shouldn't wonder if I could make a
good showing against Mr。 Hastings' new CARLOPA； though his boat's got
four cylinders and mine has but two。〃
The lad was proceeding leisurely along the lakeshore； near his home；
with the motor throttled down to test it at low speed； when he heard some
one shout。 Looking toward the bank； Tom saw a man waving his hands。
〃I wonder what he wants？〃 thought our hero as he put the wheel over
to send his craft to shore。 He heard a moment later； for the man on the
bank cried：
〃I say； my young friend； do you know anything about automobiles？ Of
course you do or you wouldn't be running a motor…boat。 Bless my very
existence； but I'm in trouble！ My machine has stopped on a lonely road
and I can't seem to get it started。 I happened to hear your boat and I
came here to hail you。 Bless my coat…pockets but I am in trouble！ Can
you help me？ Bless my soul and gizzard！〃
〃Mr。 Damon〃 exclaimed Tom； shutting off the power； for he was now
near shore。 〃Of course I'll help you； Mr。 Damon；〃 for the young inventor
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
had recognized the eccentric man of whom he had purchased the motor…
cycle and who had helped him in rounding up the thieves。
〃Why； bless my shoe…laces； if it isn't Tom Swift！〃 exclaimed Mr。
Damon； who seemed very fond of calling down blessings upon himself or
upon articles of his dress or person。
〃Yes '。 I'm here；〃 admitted Tom with a laugh。
〃And in a motor…boat； too！ Bless my pocketbook； but did that run
away with some one who sold it to you cheap？〃
〃No； not exactly；〃 and the lad explained how he had come into
possession of it。 By this time he was ashore and had tied the ARROW