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！
continued the bully patronizingly。 〃Here it is；〃 and he hauled out some
bills。
〃I don't want your money！〃 fired back Tom。
〃But I'd like to know who it was that was in my boat。〃
〃And I'd like to know who it was took my keys；〃 and Andy stuffed the
money back in his pocket。 Tom did not answer。 He was puzzling over a
queer matter and he wanted to be alone and think。 He turned aside from
the red…haired lad and walked toward his motor…boat
〃I'll give you a surprise in a few days；〃 Andy called after him； but Tom
did not turn his head nor did he inquire what the surprise might be。
39
… Page 40…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
Mr。 Swift was somewhat puzzled when his son related the outcome of
the key incident。 He agreed with Tom that some one might have found
the ring and kept it； and that the same person might have been the one
whom Tom had surprised in the boathouse。
〃But it's idle to speculate on it；〃 commented the inventor。 〃Andy
might have induced some of his chums to act for him in harming your boat；
and the key advertisement might have been only a ruse。〃
〃I hardly think so；〃 answered his son； shaking his head。 〃It strikes
me as being very curious； and I'm going to see if I can't get at the bottom
of it。〃
But a week or more passed and Tom had no clew。 In the meanwhile
he was working away at his motor…boat； installing several improvements。
One of these was a better pump； which circulated the water around the
cylinders； and another was a new system of lubrication under forced feed。
〃This ought to give me a little more speed；〃 reasoned Tom； who was
not yet satisfied with his craft。 〃Guess I'll take it out for a spin。〃
He was alone in the ARROW； taking a long course up the lake when；
as he passed a wooded point that concealed from view a sort of bay； he
heard the puffing of another motor…boat。
〃Maybe that's Mr。 Hastings；〃 thought Tom。 〃If I raced with him now；
I think the ARROW could give a better account of herself。
The young inventor looked at the boat as it came into view。 It needed
but a glance to show that it was not the CARLOPA。 Then； as it came
nearer； Tom saw a familiar figure in it…a red…haired； squint…eyed chap。
〃Andy Foger！〃 exclaimed Tom。 〃He's got a motor…boat！ This is the
surprise he spoke of。〃
The boat was rapidly approaching him； and he saw that it was painted
a vivid red。 Then he could make out the name on the bow； RED
STREAK。 Andy was sending the craft toward him at a fast rate。
〃You needn't think you're the only one on this lake who has a gasoline
boat！〃 called Andy boastfully。 〃This is my new one and the fastest thing
afloat around here。 I can go all around you。 Do you want to race？〃
It was a 〃dare；〃 and Tom never took such things when he could
reasonably enter a contest。 He swung his boat around so as to shoot
40
… Page 41…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
alongside of Andy and answered：
〃Yes； I'll race you。 Where to？〃
〃Down opposite Kolb's dock and back to this point；〃 was the answer。
〃I'll give you a start； as my engine has three cylinders。 This is a racing
boat。〃
〃I don't need any start；〃 declared Tom。 〃I'll race you on even terms。
Go ahead！〃
Both lads adjusted their timers to get more speed。 The water began to
curl away from the sharp prows； the motors exploded faster and faster。
The race was on between the ARROW and the RED STREAK。
41
… Page 42…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
CHAPTER VIII
OFF ON A TRIP
Glancing with critical eyes at the craft of his rival； Tom saw that Andy
Foger had a very fine boat。 The young inventor also realized that if he
was to come anywhere near winning the race he would have to get the
utmost speed out of his engine； for the new boat the bully had was
designed primarily； for racing； while Tom's was an all…around pleasure
craft； though capable of something in the speed line。
〃I'll be giving you a tow in a few minutes； as soon as my engine gets
warmed up！〃 sneered Andy。
〃Maybe；〃 said Tom； and then he crouched down to make as little
resistance as possible to the wind。 Andy； on the contrary； sat boldly
upright at the auto steering wheel of his boat。
On rushed the two motor craft； their prows exactly even and the
propellers tossing up a bulge in the water at their sterns。 Rapidly acquiring
speed after the two lads had adjusted the timers on their motors； the boats
were racing side by side； seemingly on even terms。
The RED STREAK had a very sharp prow； designed to cut through the
water。 It was of the type known as an automobile launch。 That is； the
engine was located forward； under a sort of hood； which had two hinged
covers like a bat's wings。 The steering…wheel shaft went through the
forward bulkhead； slantingly； like the wheel of an auto； and was arranged
with gasoline and sparking levers on the center post in a similar manner。
At the right of the wheel was a reversing lever； by which the propeller
blades could be set at neutral； or arranged so as to drive the boat backward。
Altogether the RED STREAK was a very fine boat and had cost
considerably more than had Tom's； even when the latter was new。 All these
things the young owner of the ARROW thought of as he steered his craft
over the course。
〃I hardly think I can win；〃 Tom remarked to himself in a whisper。 〃His
boat is too speedy for this one。 I have a chance； though； for his engine is
new； and I don't believe he understands it as well as I do mine。 Then； too；
I am sure I have a better ignition system。〃
42
… Page 43…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
But if Tom had any immediate hopes of defeating Andy； they were
doomed to disappointment； for about two minutes after the race started the
RED STREAK forged slowly ahead。
〃Come on！〃 cried the red…haired lad。 〃I thought you wanted a race。〃
〃I do；〃 answered the young inventor。 〃We're a long way from the
dock yet； and we've got to come back。〃
〃You'll be out of it by the time I get to the dock；〃 declared Andy。
Indeed it began to look so； for the auto boat was now a full length
ahead of Tom's craft and there was open water between them。 But our hero
knew a thing or two about racing； though he had not long been a motor…
boat owner。 He adjusted the automatic oiler on the cylinders to give
more lubrication； as he intended to get more speed out of his engine。
Then he opened the gasoline cock a trifle more and set his timer forward a
few notches to get an earlier spark。 He was not going to use the
maximum speed just yet； but he first wanted to see how the motor of the
ARROW would behave under these conditions。 To his delight he saw his
boat slowly creeping up on Andy's。 The latter； with a glance over his
shoulder； saw it too； and he advanced his spark。 His craft forged ahead；
but the rate of increase was not equal to Tom's。 〃If I can keep up to him I
suppose I ought to be glad；〃 thought the young inventor； 〃for his boat is
away ahead of mine in rating。〃
Through the water the sharp bows cut。 There were only a few
witnesses to the race； but those who were out in boats saw a pretty sight as
the two speedy craft came on toward the dock； which was the turning
point。
Andy's boat reached it first； and swung about in a wide circle for the
return。 Tom decided it was time to make his boat do its best； so he set the
timer at the limit； and the spark； coming more quickly； increased the
explos