swift and his motor-boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的摩托艇)-第4部分
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all his persuasive powers to get a substantial advance。 But every one
seemed afraid to bid。 As for the young inventor； he was in a quandary。
He could only offer five dollars more； and； if he bid it in a lump； some one
might go to two hundred and five； and he would not get the boat。 He
wished he had secured permission from his father to go higher； yet he
knew that as a fair proposition two hundred dollars was about all the
motor… boat in its present condition was worth； at least to him。 Then he
made a sudden resolve。 He thought he might as well have the suspense
over。
〃Two hundred dollars！〃 he called boldly。
〃I'm offered two hundred！〃 repeated Mr。 Wood。 〃That is something
like it。 Now who will raise that？〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
There was a moment of silence。 Then the auctioneer swung into an
enthusiastic description of the boat。 He begged for an advance； but none
was made； though Tom's heart seemed in his throat； so afraid was he that
he would not get the CARLOPA。
〃Two hundred…two hundred！〃 droned on Mr。 Wood。 〃I am offered
two hundred。 Will any of you go any higher？〃 He paused a moment； and
Tom's heart beat harder than ever。 〃If not；〃 resumed the speaker； 〃I will
declare the bidding closed。 Are you all done？ Once…twice…three times。
Two hundred dollars。 Going…going …gone！〃 He clapped his hands。
〃The boat is sold to Thomas Swift for two hundred dollars。 If he'll step
up I'll take his money。〃
There was a laugh as Tom； blushingly； advanced。 He passed Andy
Foger； who had worked his way over near him。
〃You got the boat；〃 sneered the bully； 〃and I s'pose you think you got
ahead of me。〃
〃Keep quiet！〃 begged Sam。
〃I won't！〃 exclaimed Andy。 〃He outbid me just out of spite； and I'll
get even with him。 You see if I don't！〃
Tom looked Andy Foger straight in the eyes； but did not answer； and
the red…haired youth turned aside； followed by his crony； and started
toward his automobile。
〃I congratulate you on your bargain；〃 said Mr。 Wood as Tom
proceeded to make out a check。 He gave little thought to the threat Andy
Foger had made； but the time was coming when he was to remember it
well。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
CHAPTER III
A TIMELY WARNING
〃Well； are you satisfied with your bargain； Tom？〃 asked Mr。 Wood
when the formalities about transferring the ownership of the motor…boat
had been completed。
〃Oh； yes； I calculated to pay just what I did。〃
〃I'm glad you're satisfied； for Mr。 Hastings told me to be sure the
purchaser was satisfied。 Here he comes now。 I guess he wasn't at the
auction。〃
An elderly gentleman was approaching Mr。 Wood and Tom。 Most of
the throng was dispersing； but the young inventor noticed that Andy Foger
and Sam Snedecker stood to one side； regarding him closely。
〃So you got my boat；〃 remarked the former owner of the craft。 〃I
hope you will be able to fix it up。〃
〃Oh； I think I shall；〃 answered the new owner of the CARLOPA。 〃If
I can't； father will help me。〃
〃Yes； you have an advantage there。 Are you going to keep the same
name？〃 and Mr。 Hastings seemed quite interested in what answer the lad
would make。
〃I think not；〃 replied Tom。 〃It's a good name； but I want something
that tells more what a fast boat it is； for I'm going to make some changes
that will increase the speed。〃
〃That's a good idea。 Call it the Swift。〃
〃Folks would say I was stuck up if I did that；〃 retorted the youth
quickly。 〃I think I shall call it the ARROW。 That's a good； short name；
and…〃
〃It's certainly speedy；〃 interrupted Mr。 Hastings。 〃Well now； since
you're not going to use the name CARLOPA； would you mind if I took it
for my new boat？ I have a fancy for it。〃
〃Not in the least；〃 said Tom。 〃Don't you want the letters from each
side of the bow to put on your new craft？〃
〃It's very kind of you to offer them； and； since you will have no need
for them； I'll be glad to take them off。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
〃Come down to my boat；〃 invited Tom； using the word 〃my〃 with a
proper pride； 〃and I'll take off the brass letters。 I have a screw driver in
my motor…cycle tool bag。〃
As the former and present owners of the ARROW （which is the name
by which I shall hereafter designate Tom's motor…boat） walked down
toward the dock where it was moored the young inventor gave a startled
cry。
〃What's the matter？〃 asked Mr。 Hastings。
〃That man！ See him at my motor…boat？〃 cried Tom。 He pointed to
the craft in the lake。 A man was in the cockpit and seemed to be doing
something to the forward bulkhead； which closed off the compartment
holding the gasoline tank。
〃Who is he？〃 asked Mr。 Hastings； while Tom started on a run toward
the boat。
〃I don't know。 Some man who bid on the boat at the auction； but who
didn't go high enough；〃 answered the lad。 As he neared the craft the man
sprang out； ran along the lakeshore for a short distance and then
disappeared amid the bushes which bordered the estate of Mr。 Hastings。
Tom hurriedly entered the ARROW。
Did he do any damage？〃 asked Mr。 Hastings。
I guess he didn't have time；〃 responded Tom。 〃But he was tampering
with the lock on the door of the forward compartment。 What's in there？〃
〃Nothing but the gasoline tank。 I keep the bulkhead sliding door
locked on general principles。 I can't imagine what the fellow would want
to open it for。 There's nothing of value in there。 Perhaps he isn't right in
his head。 Was he a tramp？〃
〃No； he was well dressed but he seemed very nervous during the
auction； as if he was disappointed not to have secured the boat。 Yet what
could he want in that compartment？ Have you the key to the lock； Mr。
Hastings？〃
〃Yes； it belongs to you now； Mr。 Swift；〃 and the former owner handed
it to Tom； who quickly unlocked the compartment。 He slid back the door
and peered within； but all he saw was the big galvanized tank。
〃Nothing in there he could want；〃 commented the former owner of the
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
craft。
〃No；〃 agreed Tom in a low voice。 〃I don't see what he wanted to
open the door for。〃 But the time was to come； and not far off； when Tom
was to discover quite a mystery connected with the forward compartment
of his boat； and the solution of it was fated to bring him into no little
danger。
〃It certainly is odd；〃 went on Mr。 Hastings when； after Tom had
secured the screw driver from his motor…cycle tool bag； he aided the lad in
removing the letters from the bow of the boat 〃Are you sure you don't
know the man？〃
〃No； I never saw him before。 At first I thought his voice sounded like
one of the members of the Happy Harry gang； but when I looked squarely
at him I could not see a bit of resemblance。 Besides； that gang would not
venture again into this neighborhood。〃
〃No； I imagine not。 Perhaps he was only a curious； meddlesome
person。 I have frequently been bothered by such individuals。 They want
to see all the working parts of an automobile or motor… boat； and they don't
care what damage they do by investigating。〃
Tom did not reply； but he was pretty certain that the man in question
had more of an object than mere curiosity in tampering with the boat。
However； he could discover no solution just then； and he proceeded with
the work of taking off the letters。
〃What are you going to do with your boat； now that you have it？〃
asked Mr。 Hastings。 〃Can you run it down to your dock in the condition
in which it is now？〃
〃No； I shall have to go back home； get some tools and fix up the motor。
It will take half a day； at least。 I will come back this afternoon and； have
the boat at my house by night。 That is if I may leave it at your dock
here。〃
〃Certainly； as long as you like。〃
The young inventor had many things to think about as he rode toward
home； and though he was somewhat puzzled over the actions of the
stranger； he forgot about that in anticipating the pleasure he would have
when the motor…boat was in running order。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake
