swift and his motor-boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的摩托艇)-第7部分
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gasoline is mixed with air to produce an explosive mixture） had been
adjusted； the motor started off as if it had intended to do so all the while
and was only taking its time about it。
〃The machine doesn't run as smooth as it ought to；〃 commented Mr。
Hastings。 〃No； it needs a thorough overhauling；〃 agreed the owner of the
ARROW。 〃I'll get at it tomorrow；〃 and with that he swung out into the
lake； towing his rowboat after him。
〃A motor…boat of my own！〃 exulted Tom as he twirled the steering
wheel and noted how readily the craft answered her helm。 〃This is
great！〃
He steered down the lake and then； turning around； went up it a mile
or more before heading for his own dock； as he wanted to see how the
engine behaved。
〃With some changes and adjustments I can make this a speedy boat；〃
thought Tom。 〃I'll get right at it。 I shouldn't wonder if I could make a
good showing against Mr。 Hastings' new CARLOPA； though his boat's got
four cylinders and mine has but two。〃
The lad was proceeding leisurely along the lakeshore； near his home；
with the motor throttled down to test it at low speed； when he heard some
one shout。 Looking toward the bank； Tom saw a man waving his hands。
〃I wonder what he wants？〃 thought our hero as he put the wheel over
to send his craft to shore。 He heard a moment later； for the man on the
bank cried：
〃I say； my young friend； do you know anything about automobiles？ Of
course you do or you wouldn't be running a motor…boat。 Bless my very
existence； but I'm in trouble！ My machine has stopped on a lonely road
and I can't seem to get it started。 I happened to hear your boat and I
came here to hail you。 Bless my coat…pockets but I am in trouble！ Can
you help me？ Bless my soul and gizzard！〃
〃Mr。 Damon〃 exclaimed Tom； shutting off the power； for he was now
near shore。 〃Of course I'll help you； Mr。 Damon；〃 for the young inventor
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
had recognized the eccentric man of whom he had purchased the motor…
cycle and who had helped him in rounding up the thieves。
〃Why； bless my shoe…laces； if it isn't Tom Swift！〃 exclaimed Mr。
Damon； who seemed very fond of calling down blessings upon himself or
upon articles of his dress or person。
〃Yes '。 I'm here；〃 admitted Tom with a laugh。
〃And in a motor…boat； too！ Bless my pocketbook； but did that run
away with some one who sold it to you cheap？〃
〃No； not exactly；〃 and the lad explained how he had come into
possession of it。 By this time he was ashore and had tied the ARROW to
an overhanging tree。 Then Tom proceeded to where Mr。 Damon had left
his stalled automobile。 The eccentric man was wealthy and his physician
had instructed him to ride about in the car for his health。 Tom soon
located the trouble。 The carburetor had become clogged； and it was soon
in working order again。
〃Well； now that you have a boat '； I don't suppose you will be riding
about the country so much；〃 commented Mr。 Damon as he got into his car。
〃Bless my spark…plug！ But if you ever get over to Waterfield； where I live；
come and see me。 It's handy to get to by water。〃
〃I'll come some day；〃 promised the lad。
〃Bless my hat band； but I hope so；〃 went on the eccentric individual as
he prepared to start his car。
Tom completed the remainder of the trip to his house without incident
and his father came down to the dock to see the motor… boat。 He agreed
with his son that it was a bargain and that it could easily be put in fine
shape。
The youth spent all the next day and part of the following working on
the craft。 He overhauled the ignition system； which was the jump…spark
style； cleaned the magneto and adjusted the gasoline and compression taps
so that they fitted better。 Then he readjusted the rudder lines； tightening
them on the steering wheel； and looked over the piping from the gasoline
tank。
The tank was in the forward compartment； and； upon inspecting this；
the lad concluded to change the plan by which the big galvanized iron box
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
was held in place。 He took out the old wooden braces and set them
closer together； putting in a few new ones。
〃The tank will not vibrate so when I'm going at full speed；〃 he
explained to his father。
〃Is that where the strange man was tampering with the lock the day of
the auction？〃 asked Mr。 Swift。
〃Yes； but I don't see what he could want in this compartment； do you
dad？〃
The inventor got into the boat and looked carefully into the rather dark
space where the tank fitted。 He went over every inch of it； and； pointing
to one of the thick wooden blocks that supported the tank； asked：
〃Did you bore that hole in there； Tom？〃
No； it was there before I touched the braces。 But it isn't a hole； or
rather； someone bored it and stopped it up again。 It doesn't weaken the
brace any。〃
No； I suppose not。 I was just wondering weather that was one of the
new blocks or an old one。〃
〃Oh； an old one。 I'm going to paint them； too； so in case the water
leaks in or the gasoline leaks out the wood won't be affected。 A gasoline
tank should vibrate as little as possible； if you don't want it to leak。 I
guess I'll paint the whole interior of this compartment white； then I can see
away into the far corners of it。〃
〃I think that's a good idea；〃 commented Mr。 Swift。
It was four days after his purchase of the boat before Tom was ready to
make a long trip in it。 Up to that time he had gone on short spins not far
from the dock； in order to test the engine adjustment。 The lad found it
was working very well； but he decided with a new kind of spark plugs for
the two cylinders that he could get more speed out of it。 Finally the
forward compartment was painted and a general overhauling given the
hull and Tom was ready to put； his boat to a good test。
〃Come on； Ned；〃 he said to his chum early one evening after Mr。 Swift
had said he was too tired to go out on a trial run。 〃We'll see what the
ARROW will do now。〃
》From the time Tom started up the motor it was evident that the boat
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
was going through the water at a rapid rate。 For a mile or more the two
lads speeded along； enjoying it hugely。 Then Ned exclaimed：
〃Something's coming behind us。〃
Tom turned his head and looked。 Then he called out：
〃It's Mr。 Hastings in his new CARLOPA。 I wonder if he wants a
race？〃
〃Guess he'd have it all his own way；〃 suggested Ned。
〃Oh； I don't know。 I can get a little more speed out of my boat。〃
Tom waited until the former owner of the ARROW was up to him。
〃Want a race？〃 asked Mr。 Hastings good…naturedly。
〃Sure！〃 agreed Tom； and he shoved the timer ahead to produce quicker
explosions。
The ARROW seemed to leap forward and for a moment was ahead of
the CARLOPA； but with a motion of his hand to the spark lever Mr。
Hastings also increased his speed。 For a moment the two boats were on
even terms and then the larger and newer one forged ahead。 Tom had
expected it'； but he was a little disappointed。
〃That's doing first rate；〃 complimented Mr。 Hastings as he passed them。
〃Better than I was ever able to make her do even when she was new；
Tom。〃
This made the present owner of the ARROW feel somewhat consoled。
He and Ned ran on for a few miles； the CARLOPA in the meanwhile
disappearing from view around a bend。 Then Tom and his chum turned
around and made for the Swift dock。
〃She certainly is a dandy！〃 declared Ned。 〃I wish I had one like it。〃
〃Oh； I intend that you shall have plenty of rides in this。〃 went on his
friend。 〃When you get your vacation； you and dad and I are going on a
tour；〃 and he explained his plan； which； it is needless to say； met with
Ned's hearty approval。
Just before going to bed； some hours later； Tom decided to go down to
the dock to make sure he had shut off the gasoline cock leading from the
tank of his boat to the motor。 It was a calm； early summer night； with a
new moon giving a little light； and the lad went down to the lake in his
slippers。 As he neared the boathouse he heard a noise。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
〃Water rat；〃 he murmured； or maybe muskrats。 I must set some
traps。〃
As Tom entered the boathouse he started back in alarm； for a bright
light flashed up； almost in his eyes。
〃Who's here？〃 he cried； and at that moment someone sprang out of
