swift and his motor-boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的摩托艇)-第1节
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
TOM SWIFT AND HIS
MOTOR…BOAT
（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
VICTOR APPLETON
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
CHAPTER I
A MOTOR…BOAT AUCTION
〃Where are you going； Tom？〃 asked Mr。 Barton Swift of his son as the
young man was slowly pushing his motor…cycle out of the yard toward the
country road。 〃You look as though you had some object in view。〃
〃So I have； dad。 I'm going over to Lanton。〃
〃To Lanton？ What for？〃
〃I want to have a look at that motor…boat。〃
〃Which boat is that； Tom？ I don't recall your speaking about a boat
over at Lanton。 What do you want to look at it for？〃
〃It's the motor…boat those fellows had who tried to get away with your
turbine model invention； dad。 The one they used at the old General
Harkness mansion； in the woods near the lake； and the same boat that
fellow used when he got away from me the day I was chasing him here。〃
〃Oh； yes； I remember now。 But what is the boat doing over at
Lanton？〃
〃That's where it belongs。 It's the property of Mr。 Bently Hastings。
The thieves stole it from him； and when they ran away from the old
mansion； the time Mr。 Damon and I raided the place； they left the boat on
the lake。 I turned it over to the county authorities； and they found out it
belonged to Mr。 Hastings。 He has it back now； but I understand it's
somewhat damaged； and he wants to get rid of it。 He's going to sell it at
auction today； and I thought I'd go over and take a look at it。 You see…〃
〃Yes； I see； Tom；〃 exclaimed Mr。 Swift with a laugh。 〃I see what
you're aiming at。 You want a motor…boat； and you're going all around
Robin Hood's barn to get at it。〃
〃No； dad； I only…〃
〃Oh； I know you； Tom； my lad！〃 interrupted the inventor； shaking his
finger at his son； who seemed somewhat confused。 〃You have a nice
rowing skiff and a sailboat； yet you are hankering for a motor…boat。
Come now； own up。 Aren't you？〃
〃Well； dad； a motor…boat certainly would go fine on Lake Carlopa。
There's plenty of room to speed her； and I wonder there aren't more of
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
them。 I was going to see what Mr。 Hastings' boat would sell for； but I
didn't exactly think of buying it' Still…〃
〃But you wouldn't buy a damaged boat； would you？〃
〃It isn't much damaged；〃 and in his eagerness the young inventor （for
Tom Swift had taken out several patents） stood his motor… cycle up against
the fence and came closer to his father。 〃It's only slightly damaged；〃 he
went on。 〃I can easily fix it。 I looked it all over before I gave it in
charge of the authorities； and it's certainly a fine boat。 It's worth nine
hundred dollars …or it was when it was new。〃
〃That's a good deal of money for a boat；〃 and Mr。 Swift looked serious；
for though he was well off； he was inclined to be conservative。
〃Oh； I shouldn't think of paying that much。 In fact； dad； I really had
no idea of bidding at the auction。 I only thought I'd go over and get an
idea of what the boat might sell for。 Perhaps some day…〃
Tom paused。 Since his father had begun to question him some new
plans had come into the lad's head。 He looked at his parent and saw a
smile beginning to work around the corners of Mr。 Swift's lips。 There
was also a humorous look in the eyes of the older inventor。 He
understood boys fairly well； even if he only had one； and he knew Tom
perfectly。
〃Would you really like to make a bid on that boat Tom？〃 he asked。
〃Would I； dad？ Well…〃 The youth did not finish； but his father knew
what he meant。
〃I suppose a motor…boat would be a nice thing to have on Lake
Carlopa；〃 went on Mr。 Swift musingly。 〃You and I could take frequent
trips in it。 It isn't like a motor…cycle； only useful for one。 What do you
suppose the boat will go for； Tom？〃
〃I hardly know。 Not a high price； I believe； for motor…boats are so
new on our lake that few persons will take a chance on them。 But if Mr。
Hastings is getting another； he will not be so particular about insisting on a
high price for the old one。 Then； too； the fact that it is damaged will help
to keep the price down； though I know I can easily put it in good shape。 I
would like to make a bid； if you think it's all right。〃
Well； I guess you may； Tom； if you really want it。 You have money
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
of your own and a motor…boat is not a bad investment。 What do you
think ought to be the limit？〃
〃Would you consider a hundred and fifty dollars too high？〃
Mr。 Swift looked at Tom critically。 He was plainly going over several
matters in his mind； and not the least of them was the pluck his son had
shown in getting back some valuable papers and a model from a gang of
thieves。 The lad certainly was entitled to some reward； and to allow him
to get a boat might properly be part of it
〃I think you could safely go as high as two hundred dollars； Tom；〃 said
Mr。 Swift at length。 〃That would be my limit on a damaged boat for it
might be better to pay a little more and get a new one。 However； use
your own judgment； but don't go over two hundred。 So the thieves who
made so much trouble for me stole that boat from Mr。 Hastings； eh？〃
〃Yes； and they didn't take much care of it either。 They damaged the
engine； but the hull is in good shape。 I'm ever so glad you'll let me bid
on it。 I'll start right off。 The auction is at ten o'clock and I haven't more
than time to get there。〃
〃Now be careful how you bid。 Don't raise your own figures； as I've
sometimes seen women； and men too； do in their excitement。 Somebody
may go over your head； and if he does； let them。 If you get the boat I'll
be very glad on your account。 But don't bring any of Anson Morse's
gang back in it with you。 I've seen enough of them。〃
〃I'll not dad！〃 cried Tom as he trundled his motor…cycle out of the gate
and into the country road that led to the village of Shopton； where he lived；
and to Lanton； where the auction was to be held。 The young inventor had
not gone far before he turned back； leaving his machine standing on the
side path。
〃What's the matter？〃 asked his father； who had started toward one of
several machine shops on the premises…shops where Mr。 Swift and his
son did inventive work。
〃Guess I'd better get a blank check and some money；〃 replied Tom as
he entered the house。 〃I'll need to pay a deposit if I secure the boat。〃
〃That's so。 Well； good luck；〃 and with his mind busy on a plan for a
new kind of storage battery； the inventor went on to his workroom。 Tom
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
got some cash and his checkbook from a small safe he owned and was
soon speeding over the road to Lanton； his motor… cycle making quite a
cloud of dust。 While he is thus hurrying along to the auction I will tell
you something about him。
Tom Swift； son of Barton Swift； lived with his father and a motherly
housekeeper； Mrs。 Baggert； in a large house on the outskirts of the town of
Shopton； in New York State。 Mr。 Swift had acquired considerable wealth
from his many inventions and patents； but he did not give up working out
his ideas simply because he had plenty of money。 Tom followed in the
footsteps of his parent and had already taken out several patents。
Shortly before this
