MR.SWIFT IS ALARMED
"Don't you feel better already, dad?" asked Tom that noon as they stopped under a leaning, overhanging tree for lunch on the shore of the lake."I'll leave it to Ned if you don't look more contented and less worried.""I believe he does," agreed the other lad."Well, I must say I certainly have enjoyed the outing so far," admitted the inventor with a smile."And I haven't been bothering about my gyroscope.I think I'll take another sandwich, Tom, and a few more olives.""That's the way to talk!" cried the son."Your appetite is improving, too.If Mrs.Baggert could see you she'd say so.""Oh, yes, Mrs.Baggert.I do hope she and Garret will look after the house and shops well," said Mr.Swift, and the old, worried look came like a shadow over his face.
"Now don't be thinking of that, dad," advised Tom, "Of course everything will be all right.Do you think some of those model thieves will return and try to get some of your other inventions?""I don't know, Tom.Those men were unscrupulous scoundrels, and you can never tell what they might do to revenge themselves on us for defeating their plans.""Well, I guess Garret and Mrs.Baggert will look out for them," remarked his son."Don't worry.""Yes, it's bad for the digestion," added Ned."If you don't mind, Tom, I'll have some more coffee and another sandwich myself.""Nothing the matter with your appetite, either," commented the young inventor as he passed the coffee pot and the plate.
They were soon on their way again, the ARROW making good time up the lake.Tom was at the engine, making several minor adjustments to it, while Ned steered.Mr.Swift reclined on one of the cushioned seats under the shade of the canopy.The young owner of the ARROW looked over the stretch of water from time to time for a possible sight of Andy Foger, but the RED STREAK was not to be seen.The Lakeview Hotelwas reached late that afternoon and the boat was tied up to the dock, while Tom and Ned accompanied Mr.Swift to see him comfortably established in his room.
"Won't you stay to supper with me?" invited the inventor to his son and the latter's chum."Or do you want to start right in on camp life?""I guess we'll stay to supper and remain at the hotel to-night," decided Tom."We got here a little later than I expected, and Ned and I hardly have time to go very far and establish a temporary camp.We'll live a life of luxurious ease to-night and begin to be 'wanderlusters' and get back to nature to-morrow."In the morning Tom and his chum, full of enthusiasm for the pleasures before them, started off, promising to come back to the hotel in a few days to see how Mr.Swift felt.The trip had already done the man good and his face wore a brighter look.
Tom and Ned, in the speedy ARROW, cruised along the lakeshores all that morning.At noon they, went ashore, made a temporary camp and arranged to spend the night there in the tent.After this was erected they got out their fishing tackle and passed the afternoon at that sport, having such good luck that they provided their own supper without having to depend on canned stuff.
They lived this life for three days, making a new camp each night, being favored with good weather, so that they did not have to sleep in the boat to keep dry.' On the afternoon of the third day Tom, with a critical glance at the sky, remarked:
"I shouldn't be surprised if it rained to-morrow, Ned.""Me either.It does look sort of hazy, and the wind is in a bad quarter.""Then what do you say to heading for the hotel? I fancy dad will be glad to see us." "That suits me.We can start camp life again after the storm passes."They started for Sandport that afternoon.When within about two miles of the hotel dock Tom saw, just ahead of them, a small motor-boat.Ned observed it too and called out:
"S'pose that's Andy looking for another race?""No, the boat's too small for his.We'll put over that way and see who it is."The other craft did not appear to be moving very rapidly and the ARROW was soon overhauling it.As the two chums came nearer they could hear the puffing of the motor.Tom listened with critical ears.
"That machine isn't working right," he remarked to his chum.
