swift and his motor-boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的摩托艇)-第6部分
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〃I'll get out because I'm ready to； but not on account of your threats；〃
retorted Mr。 Swift's son。 〃Here's your wrench。 Now I want you and
Sam to start up this machine and haul that log out of the way。〃
〃S'pose I won't do it？〃 snapped Andy。
〃Then I'll cause your arrest； besides thrashing you into the bargain！
You can take your choice of removing the log so travelers can pass or
having a good hiding； you and Sam。 Eradicate； you take Sam and I'll
tackle Andy。〃
〃Don't you dare touch me！〃 cried the bully； but there was a whine in
his tones。
〃You let me alone or I'll tell my father！〃 added Sam。 〃I…I didn't
have nothin' to do with it； anyhow。 I told Andy it would make trouble；
but he made me help him。〃
〃Say； what's the matter with you？〃 demanded Andy indignantly of his
crony。 〃Do you want to…〃
〃I wish I'd never come with you；〃 went on Sam； who was beginning to
be frightened。
〃Come now。 Start up that machine and haul the log out of the way；〃
demanded Tom again。
〃I won't do it I〃 retorted the red…haired lad impudently。
〃Yes； you will；〃 insisted our hero； and he took a step toward the bully。
They were out of the clump of bushes now and in the roadside ditch。
〃You let me alone；〃 almost screamed Andy； and in his baffled rage he
rushed at Tom； aiming a blow。
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The young inventor quickly stepped to one side； and； as the bully
passed him； Tom sent out a neat left…hander。 Andy Foger went down in a
heap on the grass。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
CHAPTER V
A TEST OF SPEED
Whether Tom or Andy was the most surprised at the happening would
be hard to say。 The former had not meant to hit so hard and he certainly
did not intend to knock the squint…eyed youth down。 The latter's fall was
due； as much as anything； to his senseless； rushing tactics and to the fact
that he slipped on the green grass。 The bully was up in a moment；
however； but he knew better than to try conclusions with Tom again。
Instead he stood out of reach and spluttered：
〃You just wait； Tom Swift！ You just wait！〃
〃Well； I'm waiting；〃 responded the other calmly。
〃I'll get even with you；〃 went on Andy。 〃You think you're smart
because you got ahead of me； but I'll get square！〃
〃Look here！〃 burst out the young inventor determinedly； taking a step
toward his antagonist； at which Andy quickly retreated； 〃I don't want any
more of that talk from you； Andy Foger。 That's twice you've made
threats against me today。 You put that log across the road； and if you try
anything like it for your second attempt I'll make you wish you hadn't。
That applies to you； too； Sam；〃 he added； glancing at the other lad。
〃I…I ain't gone' to do nothin'；〃 declared Sam。
〃I told Andy not to put that tree…〃
〃Keep still； can't you！〃 shouted the bully。 〃Come on。 We'll get even
with him； that's all；〃 he muttered as he went back into the bushes where
the auto was。 Andy cranked up and he and his crony getting into the car
were about to start off。
〃Hold on！〃 cried Tom。 〃You'll take that log from across the road or
I'll have you arrested for obstructing traffic； and that's a serious offense。〃
〃I'm goin' to take it away！〃 growled Andy。 〃Give a fellow a show
can't you？〃
He cast an ugly look at Tom； but the latter only smiled。 It was no
easy task for Sam and Andy to pull the log out of the way； as they could
hardly lift it to slip the rope under。 But they finally managed it； and； by
the power of the car； hauled it to one side。 Then they speed off。
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〃I 'clar t' gracious； dem young fellers am most as mean an' contrary as
mah mule Boomerang am sometimes；〃 observed Eradicate。 〃Only
Boomerang ain't quite so mean as dat。〃
〃I should hope not； Rad；〃 observed Tom。 〃I'm ever so much obliged
for your warning。 I guess I'll be getting； home now。 Come around next
week； we have some work for you。〃
〃 'Deed an' I will；〃 replied the colored man。 〃I'll come around an'
eradicate all de dirt on yo' place； Mistah Swift。 Yais； sah； I's Eradicate by
name； and dat's my perfession…eradicatin' dirt。 Much obleeged； I'll call
around。 Giddap； Boomerang！〃
The mule lazily flicked his ears； but did not stir； and Tom； knowing the
process of arousing the animal would take some time； hurried up the hill to
where he had left his motor…cycle。 Eradicate was still engaged on the task
of trying to arouse his steed to a sense of its duty when the young inventor
fIashed by on his way home。
〃So now you own a broken motor…boat；〃 observed Mr。 Swift when
Tom had related the circumstances of the auction。 〃Well； now you have
it； what are you going to do with it？〃
〃Fix it； first of all；〃 replied his son。 〃It needs considerable tinkering
up； but nothing but what I can do； if you'll help me。〃
〃Of course I will。 Do you think you can get any speed out of it？〃
〃Well； I'm not so anxious for speed。 I wart a good； comfortable boat；
and the ARROW will be that。 I've named it； you see。 I'm going back to
Lanton this afternoon； take some tools along； and repair it so I can run the
boat over to here。 Then I'll get at it and fix it up。 I've got a plan for you；
dad。〃
〃What is it？〃 asked the inventor； his rather tired face lighting up with
interest。
〃I'm going to take you on a vacation trip。〃
〃A vacation trip？〃
〃Yes； you need a rest。 You've been working； too hard over that
gyroscope invention。〃
〃Yes； Tom； I think I have；〃 admitted Mr。 Swift。 〃But I am very much
interested in it； and l think I can get it to work。 If I do it will make a
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great difference in the control of aeroplanes。 It will make them more
stable able to fly in almost any wind。 But I certainly have puzzled my
brains over some features of it。 However； I don't quite see what you
mean。〃
〃You need a rest； dad；〃 said Mr。 Swift's son kindly。 〃I want you to
forget all about patents； invention； machinery and even the gyroscope for a
week or two。 When I get my motor…boat in shape I'm going to take you
and Ned Newton up the lake for a cruise。 We can camp out； or； if we had
to； we could sleep in the boat。 I'm going to put a canopy on it and
arrange some bunks。 It will do you good and perhaps new ideas for your
gyroscope may come to you after a rest。〃
〃Perhaps they will； Tom。 I am certainly tired enough to need a
vacation。 It's very kind of you to think of me in connection with your
boat。 But if you're going to get it this afternoon you'd better start if you
expect to get back by night。 I think Mrs。 Baggert has dinner ready。〃
After the meal Tom selected a number of tools from his； own
particular machine shop and carried them down to the dock on the lake；
where his two small boats were tied。
〃Aren't you going back on your motor…cycle〃 asked his father。 〃No；
Dad； I'm going to row over to Lanton； and； if I can get the ARROW fixed；
'I'll tow my rowboat back。〃
〃Very well； then you won't be in any danger from Andy Foger。 I must
speak to his father about him。〃
〃No； dad； don't；〃 exclaimed the young inventor quickly。 〃I can fight
my own battles with Andy。 I don't fancy he will bother me again right
away。〃
Tom found it more of a task than he had anticipated to get the motor in
shape to run the ARROW back under her own power。 The magneto was
out of order and the batteries needed renewing； while the spark coil had
short…circuited and took considerable time to adjust。 But by using some
new dry cells； which Mr。 Hastings gave him； and cutting out the magneto；
or small dynamo which produces the spark that exploded the gasoline in
the cylinders； Tom soon had a fine； 〃fat〃 hot spark from the auxiliary
ignition system。 Then； adjusting the timer and throttle on the engine and
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seeing that the gasoline tank was filled； the lad started up his motor。 Mr。
Hastings helped him； but after a few turns of the flywheel there were no
explosions。 Finally； after the carburetor （which is the device where
gasoline is mi
