swift and his motor-boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的摩托艇)-第22部分
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！
but he knew； even better than Andy Foger； how to make it do efficient
work。 It was a foregone conclusion that the RED STREAK； if rightly
handled； could beat the ARROW； but there were several points in favor of
the thieves。 The motor of Tom's boat was in perfect order； and even an
amateur； with some knowledge of a boat； could make it do nearly its best。
On the other hand； the RED STREAK's machinery needed 〃nursing。〃
Again； the thieves had a good start； and that counted for much。 But Tom
counted on two other points。 One was that Happy Harry and his gang
would probably know little about the fine points of a motor。 They had
shown this in letting the motor of the boat they had first stolen get out of
order； and Tom knew the ins and outs of a gasoline engine to perfection。
So the chase was not so hopeless as it seemed。
〃Do you think you can catch them？〃 asked Mr。 Damon anxiously。
〃I'm going to make a big try；〃 answered his companion。
〃They're heading out into the middle of the lake！〃 cried the eccentric
90
… Page 91…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
man。
〃If they do； I can cut them off！〃 murmured Tom as he put the wheel
over。
But whoever was steering the ARROW knew better than to send it on
a course that would enable the pursuing boat to cut across and shorten the
distance to it。 After sending the stolen craft far enough out from shore to
clear points of land that jutted out into the lake； the leading boat was sent
straight ahead。
〃A stern chase and a long chase！〃 murmured Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless my
rudder； but those fellows are not going to give up easily。〃
〃I guess not；〃 murmured Tom。 〃Will you steer for a while； Mr。
Damon？〃
〃Of course I will。 If I could get out and pull the boat after me； to
make it go faster； I would。 But as I always lose my breath when I run；
perhaps it's just as well that I stay in here。〃 Tom thought so too； but his
attention was soon given to the engine。 He adjusted the timer to get if
possible a little more speed out of the boat he had borrowed from Andy；
and he paid particular attention to the oiling system。
〃We're going a bit faster！〃 called Mr。 Damon' encouragingly； 〃or else
they're slacking up。〃 Tom peered ahead to see if this was so。 It was
hard to judge whether he was overhauling the ARROW； as it was a stern
chase； and that is always difficult to judge。 But a glimpse along shore
showed him that they were slipping through the water at a faster speed。
〃They're up to something！〃 suddenly exclaimed Mr。 Damon a moment
later。 〃I believe they're going to fire on us； Tom。 They are pointing
something this way。〃
The lad stood up and gazed earnestly at his boat； which seemed to be
slipping away from him so fast。 One of the occupants was in the stern；
aiming some glittering object at those in the RED STREAK。 For a
moment Tom thought it might be a gun。 Then； as the man turned； he saw
what it was。
〃A pair of marine glasses；〃 cried the lad。 〃They're trying to make out
who we are。〃
〃I guess they know well enough；〃 rejoined Mr。 Damon。 〃Can't you
91
… Page 92…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
go any faster； Tom？〃
〃I'm afraid not。 But we'll land them； sooner or later。 They can't go
very far in this direction without running ashore and we'll have them。
They're cutting across the lake now。〃
〃They may escape us if it gets dark。 Probably that's what they're
working for。 They want to keep ahead of us until nightfall。〃
The young inventor thought of this too； but there was little he could do。
The motor was running at top speed。 It could be made to go faster； Tom
knew； with another ignition system； but that was out of the question now。
The man with the glasses had resumed his seat； and the efforts of the
trio seemed concentrated on the motor of the ARROW。 They； too；
wished to go faster。 But they had not skill enough to accomplish it； and
in about ten minutes； when Tom took another long and careful look to
ascertain if possible whether or not he was overhauling the thieves； he was
delighted to see that the distance between the boats had lessened。
〃We're catching them！ We're creeping up on them！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。
〃Keep it up； Tom。〃 There was nothing to do； however； save wait。 The
boat ahead had shifted her course somewhat and was now turning in
toward the shore； for the lake was narrow at this point； and abandoning
their evident intention of keeping straight up the lake； the thieves seemed
now bent on something else。
〃I believe they're going to run ashore and get out！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。
〃If they do； it's just what I want；〃 declared the lad。 〃I don't care for
the men。 I want my boat back！〃
The occupants of the ARROW were looking to the rear again； and one…
Happy Harry； Tom thought…shook his fist。
〃Ah； wait until I get hold of you！〃 cried Mr。 Damon； following his
example。 〃I'll make you wish you'd behaved yourselves； you scoundrels！
Bless my overcoat！ Catch them if you can； Tom。〃
There was now no doubt of the intention of the fleeing ones。 The
shore was looming up ahead and straight for it was headed the ARROW。
Tom sent Andy's boat in the same direction。 He was rapidly overhauling
the escaping ones now； for they had slowed down the motor。 Three
minutes later the foremost boat grated on the beach of the lake。 The men
92
… Page 93…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
leaped out； one of them pausing an instant in the bow。
〃Here； don't you damage my boat！〃 cried Tom involuntarily； for the
man seemed to be hammering something。
The fellow leaped over the side； holding something in his hand。
〃There they go！ Catch them！〃 yelled Mr。 Damon。
〃Let them go！〃 answered the lad as the men ran toward the wood。 〃I
want my boat。 I'm afraid they've damaged her。 One of them tore
something from the bow。〃
At the same instant the two companions of the fellow who had paused
in the forward part of the ARROW saw that he had something in his hand。
With yells of rage they dashed at him； but he； shaking his fist at them；
plunged into the bushes and could be heard breaking his way through；
while his companions were in pursuit。
〃They've quarreled among themselves；〃 commented Mr。 Damon as
high and angry voices could be heard from the woods。 〃There's some
mystery here； Tom。〃
〃I don't doubt it； but my first concern is for my boat。 I want to see if
they have damaged her。〃
Tom had run so closely in shore with the RED STREAK that he had to
reverse to avoid damaging the craft against the bank。 In a mass of foam
he stopped her in time； and then springing ashore； he hurried to his motor…
boat。
93
… Page 94…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
CHAPTER XIX
A QUIET CRUISE
〃Have they done any damage？〃 asked Mr。 Damon as he stood in the
bow of the RED STREAK。
Tom did not answer for a moment。 His trained eye was looking over
the engine。
〃They yanked out the high tension wire instead of stopping the motor
with the switch；〃 he answered at length； and then； when he had taken a
look into the compartment where the gasoline tank was； he added： 〃And
they've ripped out two more of the braces I put in。 Why in the world they
did that I can't imagine。〃
〃That's evidently what one man had that the others wanted；〃 was Mr。
Damon's opinion。
〃Probably；〃 agreed Tom。 〃But what could he or they want with
wooden braces？〃
That was a puzzler for Mr。 Damon； but he answered：
〃Perhaps they wanted to damage your boat and those two men were
mad because the other got ahead of them。〃
〃Taking out the braces wouldn't do much damage。 I can easily put
others in。 All it would do would be to cause the tank to sag down and
maybe cause a leak in the pipe。 But that would be a queer thing to do。
No； I think there's some mystery that I haven't gotten to the bottom of yet。
But I'm going to。〃
〃Good！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Damon。 〃I'll help you。 But can you run
your boat back home？〃
〃Not without fixing it a bit。 I must brace up that tank and put in a
new high…tension wire from the spark coil。 I can do it here； but I'd rather
take it to the shop。 Besides； with two boats to run back； for I must return
Andy's to him； I don't see how I can do it very well unless you operate one；
Mr。 Damon。〃
〃Excuse me； but I can't do it。 Bless my
