A TEST OF SPEED
Whether Tom or Andy was the most surprised at the happening would be hard to say.The former had not meant to hit so hard and he certainly did not intend to knock the squint-eyed youth down.The latter's fall was due, as much as anything, to his senseless, rushing tactics and to the fact that he slipped on the green grass.The bully was up in a moment, however, but he knew better than to try conclusions with Tom again.Instead he stood out of reach and spluttered:
"You just wait, Tom Swift! You just wait!" "Well, I'm waiting," responded the other calmly.
"I'll get even with you," went on Andy."You think you're smart because you got ahead of me, but I'll get square!""Look here!" burst out the young inventor determinedly, taking a step toward his antagonist, at which Andy quickly retreated, "I don't want any more of that talk from you, Andy Foger.That's twice you've made threats against me today.You put that log across the road, and if you try anything like it for your second attempt I'll make you wish you hadn't.That applies to you, too, Sam," he added, glancing at the other lad.
"I---I ain't gone' to do nothin'," declared Sam."I told Andy not to put that tree---""Keep still, can't you!" shouted the bully."Come on.We'll get even with him, that's all," he muttered as he went back into the bushes where the auto was.Andy cranked up and he and his crony getting into the car were about to start off.
"Hold on!" cried Tom."You'll take that log from across the road or I'll have you arrested for obstructing traffic, and that's a serious offense.""I'm goin' to take it away!" growled Andy."Give a fellow a show can't you?"He cast an ugly look at Tom, but the latter only smiled.It was no easy task for Sam and Andy to pull the log out of the way, as they could hardly lift it to slip the rope under.But they finally managed it, and, by the power of the car, hauled it to one side.Then they speed off.
"I 'clar t' gracious, dem young fellers am most as mean an' contrary as mah mule Boomerang am sometimes," observed Eradicate."Only Boomerang ain't quite so mean as dat.""I should hope not, Rad," observed Tom."I'm ever so much obliged for your warning.I guess I'll be getting, home now.Come around next week; we have some work for you."" 'Deed an' I will," replied the colored man."I'll come around an' eradicate all de dirt on yo' place, Mistah Swift.Yais, sah, I's Eradicate by name, and dat's my perfession---eradicatin' dirt.Much obleeged, I'll call around.Giddap, Boomerang!"The mule lazily flicked his ears, but did not stir, and Tom, knowing the process of arousing the animal would take some time, hurried up the hill to where he had left his motor-cycle.Eradicate was still engaged on the task of trying to arouse his steed to a sense of its duty when the young inventor fIashed by on his way home.
"So now you own a broken motor-boat," observed Mr.Swift when Tom had related the circumstances of the auction."Well, now you have it, what are you going to do with it?""Fix it, first of all," replied his son."It needs considerable tinkering up, but nothing but what I can do, if you'll help me.""Of course I will.Do you think you can get any speed out of it?" "Well, I'm not so anxious for speed.I wart a good, comfortable boat,and the ARROW will be that.I've named it, you see.I'm going back to Lanton this afternoon, take some tools along, and repair it so I can run the boat over to here.Then I'll get at it and fix it up.I've got a plan for you, dad.""What is it?" asked the inventor, his rather tired face lighting up with interest.
"I'm going to take you on a vacation trip." "A vacation trip?""Yes, you need a rest.You've been working, too hard over that gyroscope invention.""Yes, Tom, I think I have," admitted Mr.Swift."But I am very much interested in it, and l think I can get it to work.If I do it will make agreat difference in the control of aeroplanes.It will make them more stable able to fly in almost any wind.But I certainly have puzzled my brains over some features of it.However, I don't quite see what you mean.""You need a rest, dad," said Mr.Swift's son kindly."I want you to forget all about patents, invention, machinery and even the gyroscope for a week or two.When I get my motor-boat in shape I'm going to take you and Ned Newton up the lake for a cruise.We can camp out, or, if we had to, we could sleep in the boat.I'm going to put a canopy on it and arrange some bunks.It will do you good and perhaps new ideas for your gyroscope may come to you after a rest.""Perhaps they will, Tom.I am certainly tired enough to need a vacation.It's very kind of you to think of me in connection with your boat.But if you're going to get it this afternoon you'd better start if you expect to get back by night.I think Mrs.Baggert has dinner ready."After the meal Tom selected a number of tools from his, own particular machine shop and carried them down to the dock on the lake, where his two small boats were tied.
