swift and his motor-boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的摩托艇)-第24节
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with the men in it。
For three hours or more Tom and Mr。 Damon cruised in and out along
the shore of the lake； going farther and farther up the body of water。 Tom
was beginning to think that he would reach Sandport without catching
sight of the thieves； and he was wondering if； after all； he might not better
stop off and see his father when； above the puffing of the motor in the
RED STREAK； he heard the put…put of another boat。
〃Listen！〃 cried Mr。 Damon； who had heard it at the same time。
Tom nodded。
〃They're just ahead of us；〃 whispered his companion。
〃If it's them；〃 was the lad's reply。
〃Speed up and we'll soon see；〃 suggested Mr。； Damon； and Tom
shoved the timer over。 The RED STREAK forged ahead。 The sound of
the other boat came more plainly now。 It was beyond a little point of
land。 The young inventor steered out to get around it and leaned eagerly
forward to catch the first glimpse of the unseen craft。 Would it prove to
be the ARROW？
The put…put became louder now。 Mr。 Damon was standing up； as if
that would； in some mysterious way； help。 Then suddenly the other boat
came into view。 Tom saw it in an instant and knew it for the ARROW。
〃There she is！〃 he cried。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
CHAPTER XVIII
THE PURSUIT
For an instant after Tom's exultant cry the men in the boat ahead were
not aware that they were being pursued。 Then； as the explosions from
the motor of the RED STREAK sounded over the water； they turned to see
who was coming up behind them。 There was no mistaking the attitude of
the young inventor and his companion。 They were leaning eagerly
forward； as if they could reach out and grasp the criminals who were
fleeing before them。
〃Put on all the speed you can； Tom！〃 begged Mr。 Damon。 〃We'll
catch the scoundrels now。 Speed up the motor！ Oh； if I only had my
automobile now。 〃Bless my crank shaft； but one can go so much faster
on land than on water。〃 The lad did not reply； but thought； with grim
humor； that running an automobile over Lake Carlopa would be no small
feat。 Mr。 Damon； however； knew what he was saying。
〃We'll catch them！ We'll nab 'em！〃 he cried。 〃Speed her up； Tom。〃
The youth was doing his best with the motor of the RED STREAK。
He was not as well acquainted with it as he was with the one in his boat；
but he knew； even better than Andy Foger； how to make it do efficient
work。 It was a foregone conclusion that the RED STREAK； if rightly
handled； could beat the ARROW； but there were several points in favor of
the thieves。 The motor of Tom's boat was in perfect order； and even an
amateur； with some knowledge of a boat； could make it do nearly its best。
On the other hand； the RED STREAK's machinery needed 〃nursing。〃
Again； the thieves had a good start； and that counted for much。 But Tom
counted on two other points。 One was that Happy Harry and his gang
would probably know little about the fine points of a motor。 They had
shown this in letting the motor of the boat they had first stolen get out of
order； and Tom knew the ins and outs of a gasoline engine to perfection。
So the chase was not so hopeless as it seemed。
〃Do you think you can catch them？〃 asked Mr。 Damon anxiously。
〃I'm going to make a big try；〃 answered his companion。
〃They're heading out into the middle of the lake！〃 cried the eccentric
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man。
〃If they do； I can cut them off！〃 murmured Tom as he put the wheel
over。
But whoever was steering the ARROW knew better than to send it on
a course that would enable the pursuing boat to cut across and shorten the
distance to it。 After sending the stolen craft far enough out from shore to
clear points of land that jutted out into the lake； the leading boat was sent
straight ahead。
〃A stern chase and a long chase！〃 murmured Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless my
rudder； but those fellows are not going to give up easily。〃
〃I guess not；〃 murmured Tom。 〃Will you steer for a while； Mr。
Damon？〃
〃Of course I will。 If I could get out and pull the boat after me； to
make it go faster； I would。 But as I always lose my breath when I run；
perhaps it's just as well that I stay in here。〃 Tom thought so too； but his
attention was soon given to the engine。 He adjusted the timer to get if
possible a little more speed out of the boat he had borrowed from Andy；
and he paid particular attention to the oiling system。
〃We're going a bit faster！〃 called Mr。 Damon' encouragingly； 〃or else
they're slacking up。〃 Tom peered ahead to see if this was so。 It was
hard to judge whether he was overhauling the ARROW； as it was a stern
chase； and that is always difficult to judge。 But a glimpse along shore
showed him that they were slipping through the water at a faster speed。
〃They're up to something！〃 suddenly exclaimed Mr。 Damon a moment
later。 〃I believe they're going to fire on us； Tom。 They are pointing
something this way。〃
The lad stood up and gazed earnestly at his boat； which seemed to be
slipping away from him so fast。 One of the occupants was in the stern；
aiming some glittering object at those in the RED STREAK。 For a
moment Tom thought it might be a gun。 Then； as the man turned； he saw
what it was。
〃A pair of marine glasses；〃 cried the lad。 〃They're trying to make out
who we are。〃
〃I guess they know well enough；〃 rejoined Mr。 Damon。 〃Can't you
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go any faster； Tom？〃
〃I'm afraid not。 But we'll land them； sooner or later。 They can't go
very far in this direction without running ashore and we'll have them。
They're cutting across the lake now。〃
〃They may escape us if it gets dark。 Probably that's what they're
working for。 They want to keep ahead of us until nightfall。〃
The young inventor thought of this too； but there was little he could do。
The motor was running at top speed。 It could be made to go faster； Tom
knew； with another ignition system； but that was out of the question now。
The man with the glasses had resumed his seat； and the efforts of the
trio seemed concentrated on the motor of the ARROW。 They； too；
wished to go faster。 But they had not skill enough to accomplish it； and
in about ten minutes； when Tom took another long and careful look to
ascertain if possible whether or not he was overhauling the thieves； he was
delighted to see that the distance between the boats had lessened。
〃We're catching them！ We're creeping up on them！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。
〃Keep it up； Tom。〃 There was nothing to do； however； save wait。 The
boat ahead had shifted her course somewhat and was now turning in
toward the shore； for the lake was narrow at this point； and abandoning
their evident intention of keeping straight up the lake； the thieves seemed
now bent on something else。
〃I believe they're going to run ashore and get out！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。
〃If they do； it's just what I want；〃 declared the lad。 〃I don't care for
the men。 I want my boat back！〃
The occupants of the ARROW were looking to the rear again； and one…
Happy Harry； Tom thought…shook his fist。
〃Ah； wait until I get hold of you！〃 cried Mr。 Damon； following his
example。 〃I'll make you wish you'd behaved yourselves； you scoundrels！
Bless my overcoat！ Catch them if you can； Tom。〃
There was now no doubt of the intention of the fleeing ones。 The
shore was looming up ahead and straight for it w
