swift and his motor-boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的摩托艇)-第18部分
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watch； and as soon as they saw the dock unprotected they sneaked up and
stole the ARROW。〃
〃I don't think so；〃 repeated Mr。 Swift's son。
〃Who do you think took it then？〃
〃Andy Foger！〃 was the quick response。 〃I believe he and his cronies
did it to annoy me。 They have been trying to get even with me…or at least
Andy has…for outbidding him on this boat。 He's tried several times； but
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he hasn't succeeded…until now。 I'm sure Andy Foger has my boat；〃 and
Tom； with a grim tightening of his lips； swung around as though to start in
instant pursuit。
〃Where are you going？〃 asked Mr。 Jackson。
〃To find Andy and his cronies。 When I locate them I'll make them
tell me where my boat is。〃
〃Hadn't you better send some word to your father？ You can hardly
get to Sandport now； and he'll be worried about you。〃
〃That's so； I will。 I'll telephone dad that the boat…no； I'll not do that
either； for he'd only worry and maybe get sick。 I'll just tell him I've had a
little accident； that Andy ran into me and that I can't come back to the
hotel for a day or two。 Maybe I'll be lucky to find my boat in that time。
But dad won't worry then； and； when I see him； I can explain。 That's
what I'll do；〃 and Tom was soon talking to Mr。 Swift by telephone。
The inventor was very sorry his son could not come back to rejoin him
and Ned； but there was no help for it； and； with as cheerful voice as he
could assume； the lad promised to start for Sandport at the earliest
opportunity。
〃Now to find Andy and my boat！〃 Tom exclaimed as he hung up the
telephone receiver。
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CHAPTER XV
A DISMAYING STATEMENT
Trouble is sometimes good in a way； it makes a person resourceful。
Tom Swift had had his share of annoyances of late； but they had served a
purpose。 He had learned to think clearly and quickly。 Now； when he
found his boat stolen； he at once began to map out a plan of action。
〃What will you do first？〃 asked Mr。 Jackson as he saw his employer's
son hesitating。
〃First I'm going to Andy Foger's house；〃 declared the young inventor。
〃If he's home I'm going to tell him what I think of him。 If he's not； I'm
going to find him。〃
〃Why don't you take your sailboat and run down to his dock？〃
suggested the engineer。 〃It isn't as quick as your motor…boat； but it's
better than walking。〃
〃So it is；〃 exclaimed the lad。 〃I will use my catboat。 I had forgotten
all about it of late。 I'm glad you spoke。〃
He was soon sailing down the lake in the direction of the boathouse on
the waterfront of Mr。 Foger's property。 It needed but a glance around the
dock to show him that the RED STREAK was not there； but Tom
recollected the accident to the steering gear and thought perhaps Andy had
taken his boat to some wharf where there was a repair shop and there left
it to return home himself。 But inquiry of Mrs。 Foger； who was as nice a
woman as her son was a mean lad； gave Tom the information that his
enemy was not at home。
〃He telephoned to me that his boat was damaged；〃 said Mrs。 Foger
gently； 〃and that he had taken it to get fixed。 Then； he said； he and some
friends were going on a little cruise and might not be back to…night。〃
〃Did he say where he was going？〃 asked our hero； who did not tell
Andy's mother why he wanted to see her son。
〃No； and I'm worried about him。 Sometimes I think Andy is too…
well； too impetuous； and I'm afraid he will get into trouble。〃
Tom； in spite of his trouble； could hardly forbear smiling。 Andy's
mother was totally unaware of the mean traits of her son and thought him
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a very fine chap。 Tom was not going to undeceive her。
〃I'm afraid something will happen to him；〃 she went on。 〃Do you
think there is any danger being out on the lake in a motor…boat； Mr。 Swift？
I understand you have one。〃
〃Yes； I have one；〃 answered Tom。 He was going to say he had once
had one； but thought better of it。 〃No； there is very little danger this time
of year；〃 he added。
〃I am very glad to hear you say so；〃 went on Mrs。 Foger with a sigh。
〃I shall feel more at ease when Andy is away now。 When he returns
home； I shall tell him you called upon him and he will return your visit。 I
am glad to see that the custom of paying calls has not died out among the
present generation。 It is a pleasant habit； and I am glad to have my son
conform to it。 He shall return your kind visit。〃
〃Oh； no； it's of no consequence；〃 replied Tom quickly； thinking grimly
that his visit was far from a friendly one。 〃There is no need to tell your
son I was here。 I will probably see him in a day or two。
〃Oh； but I shall tell him；〃 insisted Mrs。 Foger with a kind smile。 〃I'm
sure he will appreciate your call。〃
There was much doubt concerning this in the mind of the young
inventor； but he did not express it and soon took his leave。 Up and down
the lake for the rest of the day he cruised； looking in vain for a sight of
Andy Foger in the RED STREAK； but the racing boat appeared to be well
hidden。
〃If I only could find where they've taken mine；〃 mused Tom。 〃Hang
it all； this is rotten luck！〃 and for the first time he began to feel
discouraged。
〃Maybe you'd better notify the police；〃 suggested Mr。 Jackson when
Tom returned to the Swift house that night。 〃They might help locate it。〃
〃I think I can do as well as the police；〃 answered the youth。 〃If the
boat is anywhere it's on the lake； and the police have no craft in which to
make a search。〃
〃That's so；〃 agreed the engineer。 〃I wish I could help you； but I don't
believe it would be wise for me to leave the house； especially since those
men have been about lately。〃 〃No； you must stay here；〃 was Tom's
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opinion。 〃I'll take another day or two to search。 By this time Andy and
his gang will return； I'm sure； and I can tackle them。〃
〃Suppose they don't？〃
〃Well； then I'll make a tour of the lake in my sailboat and I'll run up to
Sandport and tell dad； for he will wonder what's keeping me。 I'll know
better next time than to leave my boat at the dock without taking out the
connection at the spark coil； so no one can start the motor。 I should have
done that at first； but you always think of those things afterward。〃
The lad began his search again the next morning and cruised about in
little bays and gulfs looking for a sight of the RED STREAK or the
ARROW； but he saw neither； and a call at Andy's house showed that the
red…haired youth had not returned。 Mrs。 Foger was quite nervous over
her son's continued absence； but Mr。 Foger thought it was all right。
Another day passed without any results and the young inventor was
getting so nervous； partly with worrying over the loss of his boat and
partly on his father's account； that he did not know what to do。
〃I can't stand it any longer；〃 he announced to Mrs。 Baggert the night of
the third day； after a telephone message had been received from Mr。 Swift。
The inventor wanted to know why his son did not return to the hotel to
join him and Ned。 〃Well； what will you do？〃 asked the housekeeper。
〃If I don't find my boat to…morrow； I'll sail to Sandport； bring home
dad and Ned and we three will go all over the lake。 My boat must be on
it somewhere； but Lake Carlopa is so cut up that it could easily be
hidden。〃
〃It's queer that the Foger boy doesn't come home。 That makes it look
as if he was guilty。〃
〃Oh； I'm sure he took it all right；〃 returned Tom。 〃All I want is to see
him。 It certainly is queer that he stays away as long as he does。 Sam
Snedecker and Pete Bailey are with him； too。 But they'll have to return
some time。〃
Tom dreamed that night of finding his boat and that it was a wreck。
He awoke； glad to find that the latter part was not true； but wishing that
some of his night vision might come to pass during the day。
He started out right after breakfast； and； as usual； headed for the Foger
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home。 He almost disliked to ask Mrs。 Foger if her son had yet returned；
for Andy's mother was so polite and so anxious to kno
