swift and his motor-boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的摩托艇)-第16部分
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containing Andy Foger and his cronies。 They had observed the young
inventor's plight。
〃Want a tow？〃 sneered Andy。
〃What'll you take for your second…hand boat that won't run？〃 asked
Pete Bailey。
〃Better get out of the way or you might be run down；〃 added Sam
Snedecker。
Tom was too angry and chagrined to reply； and the RED STREAK
swept on。
〃I'll make her go； if it takes all night！〃 declared Tom energetically。
Once more he tried to start the motor。 It coughed and sighed； as if in
protest； but would not explode。 Then Tom cried： 〃The spark plug！
That's where the trouble is； I'll wager。 Why didn't I think of it before？〃
It was the work of but a minute to unscrew the spark plugs from the
tops of the cylinders。 He found that both had such accumulations of
carbon on them that no spark could ever have reached the mixture of
gasoline and air。
〃I'll put new ones in；〃 he decided； for he carried a few spare plugs for
emergencies。 Inside of five minutes； with the new plugs in place； the
motor was running better than before。
〃Now for home！〃 cried Tom； 〃and if I meet Andy Foger I'll race him
this time。〃
But the RED STREAK was not in sight； and； a little later； Tom had run
the ARROW into the boathouse； locked the door and was on his way up to
the mansion。
〃I suppose Mrs。 Baggert and Garret will be surprised to see me；〃 he
remarked。 〃Maybe they'll think we don't trust them； by coming back in
this fashion to see that everything is safe。 But then； I suppose； dad is
naturally nervous about some of his valuable machinery and inventions。
I think I'll find everything all right； though。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
As Tom went up the main path and swung off to a side one； which was
a short cut to the house； he saw in the dusk； for it was now early evening； a
movement in the bushes that lined the walk。
〃Hello； Garret！〃 exclaimed the lad； taking it for granted it was the
engineer employed by Mr。 Swift。
There was no reply； and Tom； with a sudden suspicion； sprang toward
the bushes。 The shrubbery was more violently agitated and； as the lad
reached the screen of foliage； he saw a man spring up from the ground and
take to his heels。
〃Here！ Who are you？ What do you want？〃 yelled Tom。
Hardly had he spoken when from behind a big apple tree another man
sprung。 It was light enough so that the lad could see his face； and a
glimpse of it caused him to cry out：
〃Happy Harry； the tramp！〃
Before he could call again the two men had disappeared。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
CHAPTER XIII
TOM IN DANGER
〃Garret！ Garret Jackson！〃 cried Tom as he struggled through the
hedge of bushes and ran after the men。 〃Where are you； Garret？ Come
on and help me chase these men！〃
But there came no answer to Tom's hail。 He could not hear the sound
of the retreating footsteps of the men now and concluded that they had
made their escape。 Still he would not give up； but dashed on； slipping
and stumbling； now and then colliding with a tree。
〃What can they be doing here？〃 thought Tom in great anxiety。 〃Are
they after some more of dad's inventions because they didn't get his
turbine motor？〃
〃Hello！ Who's there？ Who are you？〃 called a voice suddenly。
〃Oh； Garret！ Where have you been？〃 asked the young inventor；
recognizing the tones of his father's keeper。 〃I've been calling you。
Some of those scoundrels are around again！〃
〃Why if it isn't Tom！〃 ejaculated the engineer。 〃However in the
world did you get here？ I thought you were at Sandport。〃
〃I'll explain later； Garret。 Just now I want to catch those men； if I
can。〃
〃Which men？〃
〃Happy Harry and another one。 I saw them hiding down by the
orchard path。 Come on； they're right ahead of us。〃
But though they hunted as well as they were able to in the fast…
gathering darkness； there was no trace of the intruders。 They had to give
up； and Tom； after going to the boathouse to see that the ARROW was all
right； returned to the house； where he told the engineer and housekeeper
what had brought him back and how he had surprised the two men。
〃Is everything all right； Garret？〃 he concluded。 〃Dad is nervous and
frightened。 I must telephone him at the hotel to…night and let him know；
for I promised to come back。 I can't； though； until to…morrow。〃
〃Everything is all right as far as I know；〃 answered Jackson。 〃I've kept
a careful watch and the burglar alarm has been in working order。 Mrs。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
Baggert and I haven't been disturbed a single night since you went away。
It's curious that the men should be here the very night you come back。
Maybe they followed you。〃
〃I hardly think so； for they didn't know I was coming。〃
〃You can't tell what those fellows know；〃 commented the engineer。
〃But； anyhow； I don't suppose they could have gotten here from Sandport
as soon as you did。〃
〃Oh； yes they could； in their automobile；〃 declared Tom。 〃But I don't
believe they knew I was coming。 They knew we were away； however；
and thought it would be a good time to steal something； I guess。 Are you
sure nothing has been taken？〃
〃Perfectly sure； but you and I will take a look around the shop。〃
They made a hasty examination； but found nothing disturbed and no
signs that anyone had tried to break in。
〃I think I'll telephone dad that everything is all right；〃 decided Tom。
〃It is as far as his inventions are concerned； and if I tell about seeing the
men it will only worry him。 I can explain that part better when I see him。
But when I go back； Garret； you will have to be on your guard； since those
men are in the neighborhood。〃
〃I will； Tom。 Don't worry。〃
Mr。 Swift was soon informed by his son over the telephone that
nothing in the shops had been disturbed； and the inventor received the
news with evident satisfaction。 He requested Tom to come back to the
hotel in the morning； in order that the three of them might go for a ride
about the lake in the afternoon； and Tom decided to make an early start。
The night passed without incident； though Tom； who kept the gun Mr。
Duncan had given him in readiness for use； got up several times； thinking
he heard suspicious noises。 After an early breakfast； and having once
more cautioned the engineer and housekeeper to be on their guard； Tom
started back in the ARROW。 As it would not be much out of his way； the
young inventor decided to cut across the lake and stop at the sanitarium；
that he might inquire about Mr。 Duncan。 He thought he could speed the
ARROW up sufficiently to make up for any time he might lose； and； with
this in mind； he headed out toward the middle of Lake Carlopa。 The
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engine was working splendidly with the new spark plugs； and Tom was
wondering if there was any possible method of getting more revolutions
out of the motor。 He had about come to the conclusion that a new
propeller might answer his purpose when he heard the noise of an
approaching boat。 He looked up quickly and exclaimed：
〃Andy Foger again； and Pete and Sam are with him。 It's a wonder he
wouldn't go off on a trip instead of cruising around so near home。 Guess
he's afraid he'll get stuck。〃
Idly Tom watched the RED STREAK。 It was cutting through the
water at a fast rate； throwing up curling foam on either side of the sharp
bow。 〃He seems to be heading this way；〃 mused Tom。 〃Well； I'm not
going to race with him to…day。〃
Nearer and nearer came the speedy craft； straight for the ARROW。 The
young inventor shifted his helm in order to get out of Andy's course； but to
his surprise he saw that the red haired lad changed the direction of his own
boat。
〃Guess he wants to see how close he can come to me；〃 thought our
hero。 〃Maybe he wants to show how fast he's going。〃
The RED STREAK was now so close that the features of the
occupants could easily be distinguished。 There were grins on the faces of
Andy and his cronies。
〃Get out of the way or we'll run you down！〃 cried the bully。 〃We've got
