swift and his motor-boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的摩托艇)-第4节
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doing business。 A hundred and twenty…five from Tom Swift。 Will any
one offer me fifty？〃
Andy and Sam seemed to be having some dispute。
〃Let's make him quit right now；〃 suggested Andy in a hoarse whisper。
〃You can't；〃 declared Sam'
〃Yes； I can。 I'll go up to my limit right now。〃
〃And some one will go above you…maybe Tom will；〃 was Sam's
retort。
〃I don't believe he can afford to；〃 Andy came back with。 〃I'm going
to call his bluffs。 I believe he's only bidding to make others think he
wants it。 I don't believe he'll buy it。〃
Tom heard what was said； but did not reply。 The auctioneer was
calling monotonously： 〃I'm bid a hundred and twenty…five…twenty… five。
Will any one make it fifty？〃
〃A hundred and fifty！〃 sang out Andy； and all eyes were directed
toward him。
〃Sixty！〃 said Tom quietly。
〃Here； you…〃 began the red…haired lad。 You…〃
〃That will do！〃 exclaimed the auctioneer sternly。 〃I am offered a
hundred and sixty。 Now who will give me an advance？ I want to get the
boat up to two hundred； and then the real bidding will begin。〃
Tom's heart sank。 He hoped it would be some time before a two
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
hundred dollar offer would be heard。 As for Andy Foger； he was almost
speechless with rage。 He shook off the restraining arm of Sam； and；
worming his way to the front of the throng； exclaimed：
〃I'll give a hundred and seventy…five dollars for that boat！〃
〃Good！〃 cried the auctioneer。 〃That's the way to talk。 I'm offered a
hundred and seventy…five。〃
〃Eighty；〃 said Tom quietly； though his heart was beating fast。
〃Well； of all…〃 began Andy； but Sam Snedecker dragged him back。
〃You haven't got any more money； 〃 said the bully's crony。 〃Better stop
now。〃
〃I will not！ I'm going home for more；〃 declared Andy。 〃I must have
that boat。〃
〃It will be sold when you get back；〃 said Sam。
〃Haven't you got any money you can lend me？〃 inquired the squint…
eyed one； scowling in Tom's direction。
〃No； not a bit。 There； some one raised Tom's bid。〃
At that moment a man in the crowd offered a hundred and eighty…one
dollars。
〃Small amounts thankfully received；〃 said Mr。 Wood with a laugh。
Then the bidding became lively； a number making one…dollar advances。
The price got up to one hundred and ninety…five dollars and there it
hung for several minutes； despite the eloquence of Mr。 Wood； who tried by
all his persuasive powers to get a substantial advance。 But every one
seemed afraid to bid。 As for the young inventor； he was in a quandary。
He could only offer five dollars more； and； if he bid it in a lump； some one
might go to two hundred and five； and he would not get the boat。 He
wished he had secured permission from his father to go higher； yet he
knew that as a fair proposition two hundred dollars was about all the
motor… boat in its present condition was worth； at least to him。 Then he
made a sudden resolve。 He thought he might as well have the suspense
over。
〃Two hundred dollars！〃 he called boldly。
〃I'm offered two hundred！〃 repeated Mr。 Wood。 〃That is something
like it。 Now who will raise that？〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
There was a moment of silence。 Then the auctioneer swung into an
enthusiastic description of the boat。 He begged for an advance； but none
was made； though Tom's heart seemed in his throat； so afraid was he that
he would not get the CARLOPA。
〃Two hundred…two hundred！〃 droned on Mr。 Wood。 〃I am offered
two hundred。 Will any of you go any higher？〃 He paused a moment； and
Tom's heart beat harder than ever。 〃If not；〃 resumed the speaker； 〃I will
declare the bidding closed。 Are you all done？ Once…twice…three times。
Two hundred dollars。 Going…going …gone！〃 He clapped his hands。
〃The boat is sold to Thomas Swift for two hundred dollars。 If he'll step
up I'll take his money。〃
There was a laugh as Tom； blushingly； advanced。 He passed Andy
Foger； who had worked his way over near him。
〃You got the boat；〃 sneered the bully； 〃and I s'pose you think you got
ahead of me。〃
〃Keep quiet！〃 begged Sam。
〃I won't！〃 exclaimed Andy。 〃He outbid me just out of spite； and I'll
get even with him。 You see if I don't！〃
Tom looked Andy Foger straight in the eyes； but did not answer； and
the red…haired youth turned aside； followed by his crony； and started
toward his automobile。
〃I congratulate you on your bargain；〃 said Mr。 Wood as Tom
proceeded to make out a check。 He gave little thought to the threat Andy
Foger had made； but the time was coming when he was to remember it
well。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
CHAPTER III
A TIMELY WARNING
〃Well； are you satisfied with your bargain； Tom？〃 asked Mr。 Wood
when the formalities about transferring the ownership of the motor…boat
had been completed。
〃Oh； yes； I calculated to pay just what I did。〃
〃I'm glad you're satisfied； for Mr。 Hastings told me to be sure the
purchaser was satisfied。 Here he comes now。 I guess he wasn't at the
auction。〃
An elderly gentleman was approaching Mr。 Wood and Tom。 Most of
the throng was dispersing； but the young inventor noticed that Andy Foger
and Sam Snedecker stood to one side； regarding him closely。
〃So you got my boat；〃 remarked the former owner of the craft。 〃I
hope you will be able to fix it up。〃
〃Oh； I think I shall；〃 answered the new owner of the CARLOPA。 〃If
I can't； father will help me。〃
〃Yes； you have an advantage there。 Are you going to keep the same
name？〃 and Mr。 Hastings seemed quite interested in what answer the lad
would make。
〃I think not；〃 replied Tom。 〃It's a good name； but I want something
that tells more what a fast boat it is； for I'm going to make some changes
that will increase the speed。〃
〃That's a good idea。 Call it the Swift。〃
〃Folks would say I was stuck up if I did that；〃 retorted the youth
quickly。 〃I think I shall call it the ARROW。 That's a good； short name；
and…〃
〃It's certainly speedy；〃 interrupted Mr。 Hastings。 〃Well now； since
you're not going to use the name CARLOPA； would you mind if I took it
for my new boat？ I have a fancy for it。〃
〃Not in the least；〃 said Tom。 〃Don't you want the letters from each
side of the bow to put on your new craft？〃
〃It's very kind of you to offer them； and； since you will have no need
for them； I'll be glad to take them off。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
〃Come down to my boat；〃 invited Tom； using the word 〃my〃 with a
proper pride； 〃and I'll take off the brass letters。 I have a screw driver in
my motor…cycle tool bag。〃
As the former and present owners of the ARROW （which is the name
by which I shall hereafter designate Tom's motor…boat） walked down
toward the dock where it was moored the young inventor gave a startled
cry。
〃What's the matter？〃 asked Mr。 Hastings。
〃That man！ See him at my motor…boat？〃 cried Tom。 He pointed to
the craft in the lake。 A man was in the cockpit and seemed to be doing
something to the forward bulkhead； which closed off the compartment
holding the gasoline tank。
〃Who is he？〃 asked Mr。 Hastings； while Tom started on a run toward
the boat。
〃I don't know。 Some man who bid on the boat at the auction； but who
didn't go high enough；〃 answered the lad。
