A QUIET CRUISE
"Have they done any damage?" asked Mr.Damon as he stood in the bow of the RED STREAK.
Tom did not answer for a moment.His trained eye was looking over the engine.
"They yanked out the high tension wire instead of stopping the motor with the switch," he answered at length, and then, when he had taken a look into the compartment where the gasoline tank was, he added: "And they've ripped out two more of the braces I put in.Why in the world they did that I can't imagine.""That's evidently what one man had that the others wanted," was Mr.Damon's opinion.
"Probably," agreed Tom."But what could he or they want with wooden braces?"That was a puzzler for Mr.Damon, but he answered:
"Perhaps they wanted to damage your boat and those two men were mad because the other got ahead of them.""Taking out the braces wouldn't do much damage.I can easily put others in.All it would do would be to cause the tank to sag down and maybe cause a leak in the pipe.But that would be a queer thing to do.No, I think there's some mystery that I haven't gotten to the bottom of yet.But I'm going to.""Good!" exclaimed Mr.Damon."I'll help you.But can you run your boat back home?""Not without fixing it a bit.I must brace up that tank and put in a new high-tension wire from the spark coil.I can do it here, but I'd rather take it to the shop.Besides, with two boats to run back, for I must return Andy's to him, I don't see how I can do it very well unless you operate one, Mr.Damon.""Excuse me, but I can't do it.Bless my slippers, but I would be sure to run on a rock! The best plan will be for you to tow your boat and I'll ride in it and steer.I can do that much, anyhow.You can ride in the REDSTREAK."
Tom agreed that this would be a good plan.So, after temporarily bracing up the tank in the ARROW, it was shoved out into the lake and attached to Andy's craft.
"But aren't you going to make a search for those men?" asked Mr.Damon when Tom was ready to start back.
"No, I think it would be useless.They are well away by this time, and I don't fancy chasing them through the woods, especially as night is coming on.Besides, I won't leave these boats.""No doubt you are right, but I would like to see them punished, and I am curious enough to wish to know what object that scoundrel could have in ripping out the blocks that served as a brace for the tank.""I feel the same way myself," commented the lad, "especially since this is the second time that's happened.But we'll have to wait, I guess."A little later the start back was made, Mr.Damon steering the ARROW skillfully enough so that it did not drag on the leading boat, in which Tom rode.His course took him not far from the lake sanitarium, where Mr.Duncan, the hunter, had been brought, and desiring to know how the wounded man was getting on, the youth proposed that they make a halt, explaining to Mr.Damon his reason.
"Yes, and while you're about it you'd better telephone your father that you will join him tomorrow," suggested the other."I know what it is to fret and worry.You can fix your boat up in time to go to Sandport to- morrow, can't you?""Yes, I'm glad you reminded me of it.I'll telephone from the sanitarium, if they'll let me."Mr.Duncan was not at the institution, Tom was told, his injury having healed sufficiently to allow of his being removed to his home.The youth readily secured permission to use the telephone, and was soon in communication with Mr.Swift.While not telling him all the occurrences that had delayed him, Tom gave his father and Ned Newton enough information to explain his absence.Then the trip to Shopton was resumed in the two boats.
"What are you going to do about your automobile?" asked Tom as theyneared the point where the machine had been left.
