swift and his motor-boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的摩托艇)-第16节
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man wonderfully and now that the bleeding had almost completely
stopped； Mr。 Duncan was much stronger。
〃Do you think you can get to the boat； if I help you？〃 asked Tom。
〃Yes； I believe so。 To think of meeting you again； and under such
circumstances！ It is providential。〃
〃Did someone shoot you？〃 inquired Tom； who could not get out of
his head the notion of the men who had once assaulted him。
〃No； I shot myself；〃 answered Mr。 Duncan as he got to his feet with
Tom's help。 〃I was out with my gun； practicing just as I was that day
when I met you in the woods。 I stooped down to crawl under a bush and
the weapon went off； the muzzle being close against my arm。 I can't
understand how it happened。 I fell down and called for help。 Then I
guess I must have fainted； but I came to when I heard you talking to me。
I shouldn't have come out to… day as it is so wet； but I had some new shot
shells I wished to try in order to test them before the hunting season。 But
if I can get to the sanitarium； I will be well taken care of。 I know one of
the doctors there。〃
With Tom leading him and acting as a sort of support； the journey to
the motor…boat was slowly made。 Making as comfortable a bed as
possible out of the seat cushions； Tom assisted Mr。 Duncan to it； and then
starting the engine he sent his boat out from shore at half speed； as the fog
was still thick and he did not want to run upon a rock。
〃Do you know where the sanitarium is？〃 asked the wounded hunter。
〃About；〃 answered Tom a little doubtfully； 〃but I'm afraid it's going to
be hard to locate it in this fog。〃
〃There's a compass in my coat pocket；〃 said Mr。 Duncan。 〃Take it
out and I'll tell you how to steer。 You ought to carry a compass if you're
going to be a sailor。〃
Tom was beginning to think so himself and wondered that he had not
thought of it before。 He found the one the hunter had； and placing it on
the seat near him； he carefully listened to the wounded man's directions。
Tom easily comprehended and soon had the boat headed in the proper
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
direction。 After that it was comparatively easy to keep on the right
course； even in the fog。
But there was another danger； however； and this was that he might run
into another boat。 True； there were not many on Lake Carlopa； but there
were some； and one of the few motor…boats might be out in spite of the
bad weather。
〃Guess I'll not run at full speed；〃 decided Tom。 〃I wouldn't like to
crash into the RED STREAK。 We'd both sink。〃
So he did not run his motor at the limit and sat at the steering… wheel；
peering ahead into the fog for the first sight of another craft。
He turned to look at Mr。 Duncan and was alarmed at the pallor of his
face。 The man's eyes were closed and he was breathing in a peculiar
manner。
〃Mr。 Duncan；〃 cried Tom； 〃are you worse？〃
There was no answer。 Leaving the helm for a moment； Tom bent
over the injured hunter。 A glance showed him what had happened。 The
tourniquet had slipped and the wound was bleeding again。 Tom quickly
shut off the motor； so that he might give his whole attention to the work of
tightening the handkerchief。 But something seemed to be wrong。 No
matter how tightly he twisted the stick the blood did not stop flowing。
The lad was frightened。 In a short time the man would bleed to death。
〃I've got to get him to the sanitarium in record time！〃 exclaimed Tom。
〃Fog or no fog； I've got to run at full speed！ I've got to chance it！〃
Making the bandage as tight as he could and fastening it in place； the
young inventor sprang to the motor and set it in motion。 Then he went to
the wheel。 In a few minutes the ARROW was speeding through the
water as it had never done before； except when it had raced the RED
STREAK。 〃If I hit anything…good…by！〃 thought Tom grimly。 His
hands were tense on the rim of the steering…wheel and he was ready in an
instant to reverse the motor as he sat there straining his eyes to see through
the curtain of mist that hung over the lake。 Now and then he glanced at
the compass； to keep on the right course； and from time to time he looked
at Mr。 Duncan。 The hunter was still unconscious。
How Tom accomplished that trip he hardly remembered afterward。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
Through the fog he shot； expecting any moment to crash into some other
boat。 He did pass a rowing craft in which sat a lone fisherman。 The lad
was upon him in an instant； but a turn of the wheel sent the ARROW
safely past； and the startled fisherman； whose frail craft was set to rocking
violently by the swell from the motor…boat； sent an objecting cry through
the fog after Tom。 But the youth did not reply。 On and on he raced；
getting the last atom of power from his motor。
He feared Mr。 Duncan would be dead when he arrived； but when he
saw the dock of the sanitarium looming up out of the mist and shut off the
power to slowly run up to it； he placed his hand on the wounded man's
heart and found it still beating。
〃He's alive； anyhow；〃 thought the youth； and then his craft bumped up
against the bulkhead and a man in the boathouse on the dock was sent on
the run for a physician。
Mr。 Duncan was quickly taken up to the sanitarium on a stretcher and
Tom followed。
〃You must have made a record run；〃 observed one of the physicians a
little while afterward； when Tom was telling of his trip while waiting in
the office to hear the report on the hunter's condition。
〃I guess I did；〃 muttered the young inventor 〃only I didn't think so at
the time。 It seemed as if we were only crawling along。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
CHAPTER XII
SUSPICIOUS CHARACTERS
Under the skill of the physicians at the lake sanitarium Mr。 Duncan's
wound was quickly attended to and the bleeding； which Tom had partly
checked； was completely stopped。 Some medicines having been
administered； the hunter regained a little of his strength； and； about an
hour after be had been brought to the resort； he was able to see Tom； who；
at his request； was admitted to his room。 The young inventor found Mr。
Duncan propped up in bed； with his injured arm bandaged。
〃Is the injury a bad one？〃 asked Tom； entering softly。
〃Not as bad as I feared；〃 replied the hunter； while a trained nurse
placed a chair for the lad at the bedside。 〃If it had not been for you；
though； I'm afraid to think of what might have happened。〃
〃I am glad I chanced to be going past when you called；〃 replied the
lad。
〃Well； you can imagine how thankful I am；〃 resumed Mr。 Duncan。 〃I'll
thank you more properly at another time。 I hope I didn't delay you on
your trip。〃
〃It's not of much consequence；〃 responded the youth。 〃I was only
going to see that everything was all right at our house；〃 and he explained
about his father being at the hotel and mentioned his worriment。 〃I will
go on now unless I can do something more for you；〃 resumed Tom。 〃I
will probably stay at our house all night to…night instead of trying to get
back to Sandport。〃
〃I'd like to send word to my wife about what has happened；〃 said the
hunter。 〃If it would not be too much out of your way； I'd appreciate it if
you could stop at my home in Waterford and tell her； so she will not be
alarmed at my absence。〃
〃I'll do it；〃 replied our hero。 〃There is no special need of my hurrying。
I have brought your gun and compass up from the boat。 They are down in
