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第33节

swift and his motor-boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的摩托艇)-第33节


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Hastings   lived;   and   he   was   one   of   the   officials   of   the   club。   There   were 

several   classes;   graded   according   to   the   horse…power   of   the   motors;   and 

Tom found himself in a class with Andy Foger。 

     〃Here's   where   I   beat   you;〃   boasted   the   red…haired   youth   exultantly; 

though   his   manner   toward Tom   was   more   temperate   than   usual。            Andy 

had learned a lesson。 

     〃Well; if you can beat me I'll give you credit for it;〃 answered Tom。 

     The   first   race   was   for   high…powered   craft;   and   in   this   Mr。   Hastings' 

new CARLOPA won。               Then came the trial of the small boats; and Tom 

was pleased to note that Miss Nestor was on hand in the tiny DOT。 

     〃Good luck!〃 he called to her as he was adjusting his timer; for his turn 

would come soon。           〃Remember what I told you about the spark;〃 for he 

had given her a few lessons。 

     〃If I win it will be due to you;〃 she called brightly。 

     She did win; coming in ahead of several confident lads who had better 

boats。     But Miss Nestor handled the DOT to perfection and crossed the 

line a boat's length ahead of her nearest competitor。 

     〃Fine!〃 cried Tom; and then came the warning gun that told him to get 

ready for his trial。 

     This was a five…mile race and had several entrants。                 The affair was a 

handicap   one   and Tom  had   no   reason to   complain   of   the   rating   allowed 

him。 

     〃Crack!〃 went the starting pistol and away went Tom and one or two 

others   who   had   the   same   allowance   as   did   he。    A  little   later   the   others 

started     and   finally   the   last  class;   including     Andy     Foger。    The    RED 

STREAK   shot   ahead   and   was   soon   in   the   lead;   for Andy   and   Sam   had 

learned     better   how    to  handle    their   craft。   Tom     and    Mr。   Sharp    were 

worried; but they stuck grimly to the race and when the turning stake was 

reached Tom's motor had so warmed up and was running so well that he 

crept up on Andy。          A mile from the final mark Andy and Tom were on 

even terms;  and though the  red…haired lad   tried to shake  off his   rival he 

could     not。   Andy's      ignition   system     failed   him   several    times    and   he 

changed from batteries to magneto and back again in the hope of getting a 



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            TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT(Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa) 



little more speed out of the motor。 

     But it was not to be。       A half…mile away from the finish Tom; who had 

fallen   behind   a   little;   crept   up   on   even   terms。 Then   he   slowly   forged 

ahead; and; a hundred rods from the stake; the young inventor knew that 

the   race   was   his。  He   clinched   it   a   few   minutes   later;   crossing   the   line 

amid a burst of cheers。        The ARROW had beaten several boats out of her 

own class and Tom was very proud and happy。 

     〃My;  but   we   certainly  did   scoot   along   some!〃   cried   Mr。   Sharp。   〃But 

that's nothing to how we'll go when we build our airship; eh; Tom?〃 and he 

looked at the flushed face of the lad。 

     〃No; indeed;〃 agreed the young inventor。             〃But I don't know that we'll 

take part in any races in it。         We'll build it; however; as soon as we can 

solve that one difficulty。〃 

     They did solve it; as will be told in the next book of this series; to be 

called   〃Tom   Swift   and   His Airship;   or;   The   Stirring   Cruise   of   the   RED 

CLOUD。〃         They had some remarkable adventures in the wonderful craft; 

and solved the mystery of a great bank robbery。 

     This ended the contests of the motor…boats and the little fleet crowded 

up to the   floats and docks;  where the prizes were to   be awarded。                 Tom 

received a handsome silver cup and Miss Nestor a gold bracelet。 

     〃Now I want all the contestants; winners and losers; to come up to my 

house and have lunch;〃 invited Mr。 Hastings。 

     As Tom and the balloonist strolled up the walk to the handsome house 

Andy Foger passed them。 

     〃You wouldn't have beaten me if   my spark coil hadn't gone back   on 

me;〃 he said; somewhat sneeringly。 

     〃Maybe;〃 admitted Tom; and just then he caught sight of Mary Nestor。 

〃May I take you in to lunch?〃 he asked。 

     〃Yes;〃   she   said;   〃because   you   helped   me   to   win;〃   and   she   blushed 

prettily。    And   then   they   all   sat   down   to   the   tables   set   out   on   the   lawn; 

while Tom looked so often at Mary Nestor that Mr。 Sharp said afterward it 

was a wonder he found time to eat。            But Tom didn't care。        He was happy。 



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