swift and his motor-boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的摩托艇)-第19节
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fastenings had been torn loose。
〃What do you mean by running me down？〃 shouted Tom angrily。
〃I…I didn't do it on purpose；〃 returned Andy contritely。 〃I was
seeing how near I could come to you when my steering gear broke。 I hope
I haven't damaged you。〃
〃My rudder's broken；〃 went on Tom 〃and I've got to put back to repair
it。 I ought to have you arrested for this！〃
〃I'll pay for the damage；〃 replied Andy； and he was so frightened that
he was white； in spite of his tan and freckles。
〃That won't do me any good now；〃 retorted Tom。 〃It will delay me a
couple of hours。 If you try any tricks like that again； I'll complain to the
authorities and you won't be allowed to run a boat on this lake。〃
Andy knew that his rival was in the right and did not reply。 The bully
and his cronies busied themselves over the broken steering gear； and the
young inventor； finding that he could make a shift to get back to his
boathouse； turned his craft around and headed for there； in order to repair
the damage。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
CHAPTER XIV
THE ARROW DISAPPEARS
Paying no heed to the occupants of the bully's boat； who； by reason of
their daring； had been responsible for his accident that might have resulted
seriously； Tom was soon at his dock。 He had it conveniently arranged for
hoisting craft out of the water to repair them； and in a few minutes the
stern of the ARROW was elevated so that he could get at the rudder。
〃Well； it's not as bad as I thought；〃 he remarked when； with critical eye；
he had noted the damage done。 I can fix it in about an hour if Garret
helps me。〃
Going up to the house to get some tools and to tell the engineer that he
had returned； Tom looked out over the lake and saw Andy's boat moving
slowly off。
〃They've got her fixed up in some kind of shape；〃 he murmured。 〃It's a
shame for a chump like Andy to have a good boat like that。 He'll spoil it in
one season。 He's getting altogether too reckless。 First thing he knows；
he and I will have a clash and I'll pay back some of the old scores。〃
Mr。 Jackson was much surprised to see the young inventor home again
so soon； as was also Mrs。 Baggert。 Tom explained what had happened；
and he and the engineer went to work repairing the damage done by the
RED STREAK。 As the owner of the ARROW had anticipated； the work
did not take long； and； shortly before dinner time； the boat was ready to
resume the interrupted trip to Sandport。
〃Better stay and have lunch；〃 urged Mrs。 Baggert。 〃You can hardly
get to the hotel by night； anyhow； and maybe it would be better not to start
until to…morrow。〃
〃No； I must get back to…night or dad would be worried；〃 declared Tom。
〃I've been gone longer now than I calculated on。 But I will have dinner
here； and； if necessary； I can do the last half of the trip after dark。 I know
the way now and I have a compass and a good searchlight。〃
The ARROW was let down into the water again and tied outside the
boathouse ready for a quick start。 The dinner Mrs。 Baggert provided was
so good that Tom lingered over it longer than he meant to； and he asked
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for a second apple dumpling with hard sauce on。 So it was with a very
comfortable feeling indeed and with an almost forgiving spirit toward
Andy Foger that our hero started down the path to the lake。
〃Now for a quick run to Sandport；〃 he said aloud。 〃I hope I shan't see
any more of those men and that dad hasn't been bothered by them。 His
suspicions about the house weren't altogether unfounded； for I did see the
tramp and some one else sneaking around； but I don't believe they'll come
back now。〃
Tom swung around the path that led to the dock。 As he came in sight
of the water； he stared as if he could not believe what he saw； or； rather；
what he did not see。 For there was no craft tied to the string…piece； where
he had fastened his motor…boat。 He looked again； rubbed his eyes to
make sure and then cried out：
〃The ARROW is gone！〃
There was no doubt of it。 The craft was not at the dock。 Breaking
into a run； Tom hastened to the boathouse。 The ARROW was not in there；
and a look across the lake showed only a few rowboats in sight。
〃That's mighty funny；〃 mused the youth。 〃I wonder…〃
He paused suddenly in his thoughts。
〃Maybe Garret took it out to try and see that it worked all right；〃 he
said hopefully。 〃He knows how to run a boat。 Maybe he wanted to see
how the rudder behaved and is out in it now。 He got through dinner
before I did。 But I should have thought he'd have said something to me if
he was going out in it。〃
This was the one weak point in Tom's theory； and he felt it at once。
〃I'll see if Garret is in his shop；〃 he went on as he turned back toward
the house。
The first person he met as he headed for the group of small structures
where Mr。 Swift's inventive work was carried on was Garret Jackson； the
engineer。
〃I…I thought you were out in my boat！〃 stammered Tom。
〃Your boat！ Why would I be out in your boat？〃 and Mr。 Jackson
removed his pipe from his mouth and stared at the young inventor。
〃Because it's gone！〃
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〃Gone！〃 repeated the engineer； and then Tom told him。 The two
hurried down to the dock； but the addition of another pair of eyes was of
no assistance in locating the ARROW。 The trim little motor craft was
nowhere to be seen。
〃I can't understand it；〃 said Tom helplessly。 〃I wasn't gone more than
an hour at dinner； and yet…〃
〃It doesn't take long to steal a motor…boat；〃 commented the engineer。
〃But I think I would have heard them start it；〃 went on the lad。 〃Maybe
it drifted off； though I'm sure I tied it securely。〃
〃No； there's not much likelihood of that。 There's no wind to…day and
no currents in the lake。 But it could easily have been towed off by some
one in a rowboat and then you would not have heard the motor start。〃
〃That's so；〃 agreed the youth。 〃That's probably how they did it。 They
sneaked up here in a rowboat and towed the ARROW off。 I'm sure of it。〃
〃And I'll wager I know who did it；〃 exclaimed Mr。 Jackson
energetically。
〃Who？〃 demanded Tom quickly。
〃Those men who were sneaking around…Happy Harry and his gang。
They stole the boat once and they'd do it again。 Those men took your
boat； Tom。〃
The young inventor shook his head。
〃No；〃 he answered； 〃I don't believe they did。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Well； because they wouldn't dare come back here when they knew
we're on the lookout for them。 It would be too risky。〃
〃Oh； those fellows don't care for risk；〃 was the opinion of Mr。 Jackson。
〃Take my word for it； they have your boat。 They have been keeping
watch； and as soon as they saw the dock unprotected they sneaked up and
stole the ARROW。〃
〃I don't think so；〃 repeated Mr。 Swift's son。
〃Who do you think took it then？〃
〃Andy Foger！〃 was the quick response。 〃I believe he and his cronies
did it to annoy me。 They have been trying to get even with me…or at least
Andy has…for outbidding him on this boat。 He's tried several times； but
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he hasn't succeeded…until now。 I'm sure Andy Foger has my boat；〃 and
Tom； with a grim tightening of his lips； swung around as though to start in
instant pursuit。
〃Where are you going？〃 asked Mr。 Jackson。
〃To find Andy and his cronies。 When I locate them I'll make them
tell me where my boat is。〃
〃Hadn't you better send some word to your father？ You can hardly
get to Sandport now； and he'll be worried about you。〃
〃That's so
