swift and his motor-boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的摩托艇)-第21节
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home。 He almost disliked to ask Mrs。 Foger if her son had yet returned；
for Andy's mother was so polite and so anxious to know whether any
danger threatened that Tom hardly knew how to answer her。 But he was
saved that embarrassment on this occasion； for as he was going up the
walk from the lake to the residence he met the gardener and from him
learned that Andy had not yet come back。
〃But his mother had a message from him； I did hear；〃 went on the man。
〃He's on his way。 It seems he had some trouble。〃
〃Trouble。 What kind of trouble？〃 asked Tom。
〃I don't rightly know； sir； but；〃 and here the gardener winked his eye；
〃Master Andy isn't particular what kind of trouble he gets into。〃
〃That's right；〃 agreed our hero； and as he went down again to where he
had left his boat he thought： 〃Nor what kind of trouble he gets other
people into。 I wish I had hold of him for about five minutes！〃
The sailboat swung slowly from the dock and heeled over to the gentle
breeze。 Hardly knowing what to do； Tom headed for the middle of the
lake。 He was discouraged and tired of making plans only to have them
fail。
As he looked across the stretch of water he saw a boat coming toward
him。 He shaded his eyes with his hand to see better； and then； with a pair
of marine glasses； took an observation。 He uttered an exclamation。
〃That's the RED STREAK as sure as I'm alive！〃 he cried。 〃But
what's the matter with her？ They're rowing！〃
The lad headed his boat toward the approaching one。 There was no
doubt about it。 It was Andy Foger's craft； but it was not speeding
forward under the power of the motor。 Slowly and laborious the
occupants were pulling it along； and as it was not meant to be rowed；
progress was very slow。
〃They've had a breakdown；〃 thought Tom。 〃Serves 'em right！ Now
wait till I tackle 'em and find out where my boat is。 I've a good notion to
have Andy Foger arrested！〃
The sailing craft swiftly approached the motorboat。 Tom could see
the three occupants looking at him； apprehensively as well as curiously； he
thought。
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〃Guess they didn't think I'd keep after 'em；〃 mused the young inventor；
and a little later he was beside the RED STREAK。
〃Well；〃 cried Tom angrily； 〃it's about time you came back！〃
〃We've had a breakdown；〃 remarked Andy； and he seemed quite
humiliated。 He was beginning to find out that he didn't know as much
about a motor…boat as he thought he did。
〃I've been waiting for you；〃 went on Tom。
〃Waiting for us？ What for？〃 asked Sam Snedecker。
〃What for？ As if you didn't know！〃 blurted out the owner of the
ARROW。 〃I want my boat； Andy Foger； the one you stole from me and
hid！ Tell me where it is at once or I'll have you arrested！〃
〃Your boat！〃 repeated the bully； and there was no mistaking the
surprise in his tones。
〃Yes； my boat！ Don't try to bluff me like that。〃
〃I'm not trying to bluff you。 We've been away； three days and just got
back。〃
〃Yes； I know you have。 You took my boat with you； too。〃
〃Are you crazy？〃 demanded Pete Bailey。
〃No； but you fellows must have been to think you could take my boat
and me not know it；〃 and Tom； filled with wrath； grasped the gunwale of
the RED STREAK as if he feared it would suddenly shoot away。
〃Look here！〃 burst out Andy； and he spoke sincerely； 〃we didn't touch
your boat。 Did we； fellows？〃
〃No！〃 exclaimed Sam and Pete at once； and they were very much in
earnest。
〃We didn't even know it was stolen； did we？〃 went on Andy。
〃No；〃 agreed his chums。 Tom looked unconvinced。
〃We haven't taken your boat and we can prove it；〃 continued the bully。
〃I know you and I have had quarrels； but I'm telling you the truth； Tom
Swift。 I never touched your boat。〃
There was no mistaking the sincerity of Andy。 He was not a skilful
deceiver； and Tom； looking into his squint…eyes； which were opened
unusually wide； could not but help believing the fellow。
〃We haven't seen it since the day we had the collision；〃 added Andy；
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and his chums confirmed this statement。
〃We went off on a little cruise；〃 continued the red…haired bully； 〃and
broke down several times。 We had bad luck。 Just as we were nearing
home something went wrong with the engine again。 I never saw such a
poor motor。 But we never took your boat； Tom Swift； and we can prove
it。〃 Tom was in despair。 He had been so sure that Andy was the thief；
that to believe otherwise was difficult。 Yet he felt that he must。 He
looked at the disabled motor of the RED STREAK and viewed it with the
interested and expert eye of a machinist； no matter if the owner of it was
his enemy。 Then suddenly a brilliant idea came into Tom's head。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
CHAPTER XVI
STILL ON THE SEARCH
〃You seem to have lots of trouble with your boat； Andy；〃 said Tom
after a few moments of rather embarrassed silence。
〃I do；〃 admitted the owner of the RED STREAK。 〃I've had bad luck
ever since I got it； but usually I've been able to fix it by looking in the
book。 This time I can't find out what the trouble is； nor can any of the
fellows。 It stopped when we were out in the middle of the lake and we
had to row。 I'm sick of motor boating。〃
〃Suppose I fix it for you？〃 went on Tom。
〃If you do； I'll pay you well。〃
〃I wouldn't do it for pay…not the kind you mean；〃 continued the
young inventor。
〃What do you mean then？〃 and Andy's face； that had lighted up；
became glum again。
〃Well； if I fix your boat for you； will you let me run it a little while？〃
〃You mean show me how to run it？〃
〃No； I mean take it myself。 Look here； Andy； my boat's been stolen；
and I thought you took it to get even with me。 You say you didn't…〃
〃And I didn't touch it；〃 interposed the squint…eyed lad quickly。
〃All right； I believe you。 But somebody stole it； and I think I know
who。〃
〃Who？〃 asked Sam Snedecker。
〃Well； you wouldn't know if I told you； but I suspect some men with
whom I had trouble before；〃 and Tom referred to Happy Harry and his
gang。 〃I think they have my boat on this lake； and I'd like to get another
speedy craft to cruise about it and make a further search。 How about it；
Andy？ If I fix your boat； will you let me take it to look for my boat？〃
〃Sure thing！〃 agreed the bully quickly； and his voice for once was
friendly toward Tom。 〃Fix the engine so it will run； and you can use the
RED STREAK as long as you like。〃
〃Oh； I probably wouldn't want it very long。 I could cover the lake in
about three days； and I hope by that time I could locate the thieves。 Is it
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a bargain？〃
〃Sure；〃 agreed Andy again； and Tom got into the motor…boat to look at
the engine。 He found that it would require some time to adjust it
properly and that it would be necessary to take the motor apart。
〃I think I'd better tow you to my dock；〃 the young inventor said to
Andy。 〃I can use some tools from the shop then； and by to… night I'll
have the RED STREAK in running order。〃
The breeze was in the right quarter； fortunately； and with the motor…
boat dragging behind； the ARROW's owner put the nose of the sailing
craft toward his home dock。 When Tom reached his house he found that
Mrs。 Baggert had re
