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possession of it。 By this time he was ashore and had tied the ARROW to
an overhanging tree。 Then Tom proceeded to where Mr。 Damon had left
his stalled automobile。 The eccentric man was wealthy and his physician
had instructed him to ride about in the car for his health。 Tom soon
located the trouble。 The carburetor had become clogged； and it was soon
in working order again。
〃Well； now that you have a boat '； I don't suppose you will be riding
about the country so much；〃 commented Mr。 Damon as he got into his car。
〃Bless my spark…plug！ But if you ever get over to Waterfield； where I live；
come and see me。 It's handy to get to by water。〃
〃I'll come some day；〃 promised the lad。
〃Bless my hat band； but I hope so；〃 went on the eccentric individual as
he prepared to start his car。
Tom completed the remainder of the trip to his house without incident
and his father came down to the dock to see the motor… boat。 He agreed
with his son that it was a bargain and that it could easily be put in fine
shape。
The youth spent all the next day and part of the following working on
the craft。 He overhauled the ignition system； which was the jump…spark
style； cleaned the magneto and adjusted the gasoline and compression taps
so that they fitted better。 Then he readjusted the rudder lines； tightening
them on the steering wheel； and looked over the piping from the gasoline
tank。
The tank was in the forward compartment； and； upon inspecting this；
the lad concluded to change the plan by which the big galvanized iron box
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
was held in place。 He took out the old wooden braces and set them
closer together； putting in a few new ones。
〃The tank will not vibrate so when I'm going at full speed；〃 he
explained to his father。
〃Is that where the strange man was tampering with the lock the day of
the auction？〃 asked Mr。 Swift。
〃Yes； but I don't see what he could want in this compartment； do you
dad？〃
The inventor got into the boat and looked carefully into the rather dark
space where the tank fitted。 He went over every inch of it； and； pointing
to one of the thick wooden blocks that supported the tank； asked：
〃Did you bore that hole in there； Tom？〃
No； it was there before I touched the braces。 But it isn't a hole； or
rather； someone bored it and stopped it up again。 It doesn't weaken the
brace any。〃
No； I suppose not。 I was just wondering weather that was one of the
new blocks or an old one。〃
〃Oh； an old one。 I'm going to paint them； too； so in case the water
leaks in or the gasoline leaks out the wood won't be affected。 A gasoline
tank should vibrate as little as possible； if you don't want it to leak。 I
guess I'll paint the whole interior of this compartment white； then I can see
away into the far corners of it。〃
〃I think that's a good idea；〃 commented Mr。 Swift。
It was four days after his purchase of the boat before Tom was ready to
make a long trip in it。 Up to that time he had gone on short spins not far
from the dock； in order to test the engine adjustment。 The lad found it
was working very well； but he decided with a new kind of spark plugs for
the two cylinders that he could get more speed out of it。 Finally the
forward compartment was painted and a general overhauling given the
hull and Tom was ready to put； his boat to a good test。
〃Come on； Ned；〃 he said to his chum early one evening after Mr。 Swift
had said he was too tired to go out on a trial run。 〃We'll see what the
ARROW will do now。〃
》From the time Tom started up the motor it was evident that the boat
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
was going through the water at a rapid rate。 For a mile or more the two
lads speeded along； enjoying it hugely。 Then Ned exclaimed：
〃Something's coming behind us。〃
Tom turned his head and looked。 Then he called out：
〃It's Mr。 Hastings in his new CARLOPA。 I wonder if he wants a
race？〃
〃Guess he'd have it all his own way；〃 suggested Ned。
〃Oh； I don't know。 I can get a little more speed out of my boat。〃
Tom waited until the former owner of the ARROW was up to him。
〃Want a race？〃 asked Mr。 Hastings good…naturedly。
〃Sure！〃 agreed Tom； and he shoved the timer ahead to produce quicker
explosions。
The ARROW seemed to leap forward and for a moment was ahead of
the CARLOPA； but with a motion of his hand to the spark lever Mr。
Hastings also increased his speed。 For a moment the two boats were on
even terms and then the larger and newer one forged ahead。 Tom had
expected it'； but he was a little disappointed。
〃That's doing first rate；〃 complimented Mr。 Hastings as he passed them。
〃Better than I was ever able to make her do even when she was new；
Tom。〃
This made the present owner of the ARROW feel somewhat consoled。
He and Ned ran on for a few miles； the CARLOPA in the meanwhile
disappearing from view around a bend。 Then Tom and his chum turned
around and made for the Swift dock。
〃She certainly is a dandy！〃 declared Ned。 〃I wish I had one like it。〃
〃Oh； I intend that you shall have plenty of rides in this。〃 went on his
friend。 〃When you get your vacation； you and dad and I are going on a
tour；〃 and he explained his plan； which； it is needless to say； met with
Ned's hearty approval。
Just before going to bed； some hours later； Tom decided to go down to
the dock to make sure he had shut off the gasoline cock leading from the
tank of his boat to the motor。 It was a calm； early summer night； with a
new moon giving a little light； and the lad went down to the lake in his
slippers。 As he neared the boathouse he heard a noise。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
〃Water rat；〃 he murmured； or maybe muskrats。 I must set some
traps。〃
As Tom entered the boathouse he started back in alarm； for a bright
light flashed up； almost in his eyes。
〃Who's here？〃 he cried； and at that moment someone sprang out of his
motor…boat； scrambled into a rowing craft which the youth could dimly
make out in front of the dock and began to pull away quickly。
〃Hold on there！〃 cried the young inventor。 〃Who are you？ What do
you want？ Come back here！〃
The person in the 'coat returned no answer。 With his heart doing
beats over…time Tom lighted a lantern and made a hasty examination of the
ARROW。 It did not appear to have been harmed； but a glance showed
that the door of the gasoline compartment had been unlocked and was
open。 Tom jumped down into his craft。
〃Some one has been at that compartment again！〃 he murmured。 〃I
wonder if it was the same man who acted so suspiciously at the auction？
What can his object be； anyhow？
The next moment he uttered an exclamation of startled surprise and
picked up something from the bottom of the boat。 It was a bunch of keys；
with a tag attached； bearing the owner's name。
〃Andy Foger！〃 murmured Tom。 〃So this is； how he was trying to get
even！ Maybe he started to put a hole in the tank or in my boat。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
CHAPTER VI
TOWING SOME GIRLS
With a sense of anger mingled with an apprehension lest some harm
should have been done to his craft； the owner of the ARROW went
carefully over it。 He could find nothing wrong。 The engine was all
right and all that appeared to have been accomplished by the unbidden
visitor was the opening of the locked forward compartment。 That this
had