[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlunderstand you to say you were after those chaps again? Bless my watch charm,but Iwas so interested in my machine that I didn't think to ask you.""Yes, I am after those thieves again.""In your motorboat, I presume.Well, I hope you catch them.What have theystolen now?""My motorboat.That's why I'm after them, but I had to borrow a craft to chasethem with.""Bless my soul! You don't tell me! How did it happen?"Thereupon the lad related as much of the story as was necessary to put Mr.Damon in possession of the facts and he ended up with:"I don't suppose you have seen anything of the men in my boat, have you?"Mr.Damon seemed strangely excited.He had entered his auto, but as the lad'sstory progressed the odd gentleman had descended.When Tom finished heexclaimed:"Don't say a word nownot a word.I want to think, and that is a process,which, for me, requires a little time.Don't speak a word now.Bless my lefthand, but I think I can help you!"He frowned, stamped first one foot, then the other, looked up at the sky, asif seeking inspiration there, and then down at the ground, as if that wouldhelp him to think.Then he clapped his hands smartly together and cried out:"Bless my shoe buttons!""Have you seen them?" asked Tom eagerly."Was your boat one with a red arrow painted on the bow?" asked Mr.Damon inturn."It was!" and the lad was now almost as excited as was his friend.Tom Swift And His MotorBoatCHAPTER XVII."THERE SHE IS!"54"Then I've seen it and, what's more, this morning! Bless my spark plug, I'veseen it!""Tell me about it!" pleaded the young inventor, and Mr.Damon, calming himselfafter an effort, resumed:"I was out for an early spin in my auto," he said, "and was traveling along aroad that bordered the lake, about fifteen miles above here.I heard amotorboat puffing along near shore, and, looking through the trees, I saw onecontaining three men.It had a red arrow on the bow, and that's why I noticedit, because I recalled that your boat was named the DART.""ARROW," corrected Tom."The ARROW.Oh, yes, I knew it was something like that.Well of course at thetime I didn't think that it was your boat, but I associated it in my mind withyours.Do you catch my meaning?"Tom did and said so, wishing Mr.Damon would hurry and get to the point.Butthe eccentric character had to do things in his own way."Exactly," he resumed."Well, I didn't think that was your boat, but, at thesame time, I watched the men out of curiosity, and I was struck with theirbehavior.They seemed to be quarreling, and, from what I could hear, two ofthem seemed to be remonstrating with the third one for having taken some sortof a piece of wood from the forward compartment.I believe that is the properterm.""Yes!" Tom almost shouted."But where did they go? What became of them? Whatwas the man doing to the forward compartment where the gasoline tank is?""Exactly.I was trying to think what was kept there.That's it, the gasolinetank.Well, the boat kept on up the lake, and I don't know what became of themen.But about that piece of wood.It seems that one of the men removed ablock, from under the tank and the others objected.That's why they werequarreling.""That's very strange," exclaimed the lad."There must be some mystery about myPage 49ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlboat that I don't understand.But that will keep until I get the boat itself.Goodby, Mr.Damon.I must beoff.""Where to?""Up the lake after those thieves.I must lose no time," and Tom started to goback to where he had left theRED STREAK."Hold on!" cried Mr.Damon."I have something to propose, Tom.Two heads arebetter than one, even if one doesn't know how to adjust a nutmeg grate.Suppose I come along with you? I can point out the direction the men took, atany rate.""I'll be very glad to have you," answered the lad, who felt that he might needhelp if there were three of the thieves in his craft."But what will you dowith your automobile?""I'll just run it down the road a way to where a friend of mine has a stable.I'll leave it in there and join you.Will you let me come? Bless my eye glasses, but I'd like to help catch thosescoundrels!""I'll be very glad to have you.Go ahead, put the auto in the barn and I'llwait for you.""I have a better plan than that," replied Mr.Damon."Run your boat down tothat point," and he indicated one about a mile up the lake."I'll be therewaiting for you, and we'll lose no time.I can cover the ground faster inTom Swift And His MotorBoatCHAPTER XVII."THERE SHE IS!"55my auto than you can in your boat."Tom saw the advantage of this and was soon under way, while he heard on shorethe puffing of his friend's car.On the trip to the point Tom puzzled over thestrange actions of the man in taking one of the braces from under the gasolinetank."I'll wager he did it before," thought the lad."It must be the same personwho was tampering with the lock of the forward compartment the day I boughtthe boat.But whythat's the questionwhy?"He could find no answer to this, puzzle over it as he did, and he gave it up.His whole desire now was to get on the trail of the thieves, and he had stronghopes, after the clew Mr.Damon had given him.The latter was waiting for himon the point, and so nimble was the owner of the auto, in spite of his size,that Tom was not delayed more than the fraction of a minute ere he was underway again, speeding up the lake."Now keep well in toward shore," advised Mr.Damon."Those fellows don't wantto be observed any more than they can help, and they'll sneak along the bank,They were headed in that direction," and he pointed it out."Now I hope youwon't think I'm in the way.Besides, you know, if you get your boat back,you'll want some one to help steer it, while you run this one.I can do that,at all events, bless my very existence!""I am very glad of your help," replied the lad, but he did not take his eyesfrom the water before him, and he was looking for a sight of his boat with themen in it.For three hours or more Tom and Mr.Damon cruised in and out along the shoreof the lake, going farther and farther up the body of water.Tom was beginningto 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 hisfather when, above the puffing of the motor in the RED STREAK, he heard theputput 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.Page 50ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"If it's them," was the lad's reply."Speed up and we'll soon see," suggested Mr., Damon, and Tom shoved the timerover.The RED STREAKforged ahead.The sound of the other boat came more plainly now.It was beyonda little point of land.The young inventor steered out to get around it andleaned eagerly forward to catch the first glimpse of the unseen craft.Wouldit prove to be the ARROW?The putput became louder now.Mr.Damon was standing up, as if that would, insome mysterious way, help.Then suddenly the other boat came into view.Tomsaw it in an instant and knew it for the ARROW."There she is!" he cried.CHAPTER XVIII.THE PURSUITFor an instant after Tom's exultant cry the men in the boat ahead were notaware that they were being pursued.Then, as the explosions from the motor ofthe RED STREAK sounded over the water, they turned to see who was coming upbehind them.There was no mistaking the attitude of the young inventor and hiscompanion.They were leaning eagerly forward, as if they could reach out andgrasp the criminals who wereTom Swift And His MotorBoatCHAPTER XVIII.THE PURSUIT56fleeing before them."Put on all the speed you can, Tom!" begged Mr.Damon."We'll catch thescoundrels now.Speed up the motor! Oh, if I only had my automobile now [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]