despair. He had been so sure that Andy was the thief, that
to believe otherwise was difficult. Yet he felt that he must. He
looked at the disabled motor of the RED STREAK and viewed it with the
interested and expert eye of a machinist, no matter if the owner of it
was his enemy. Then suddenly a brilliant idea came into Tom's head.

CHAPTER XVI

STILL ON THE SEARCH

"You seem to have lots of trouble with your boat, Andy," said Tom after
a few moments of rather embarrassed silence.

"I do," admitted the owner of the RED STREAK. "I've had bad luck ever
since I got it, but usually I've been able to fix it by looking in the
book. This time I can't find out what the trouble is, nor can any of
the fellows. It stopped when we were out in the middle of the lake and
we had to row. I'm sick of motor boating."

"Suppose I fix it for you?" went on Tom.

"If you do, I'll pay you well."

"I wouldn't do it for pay--not the kind you mean," continued the young
inventor.

"What do you mean then?" and Andy's face, that had lighted up, became
glum again.

"Well, if I fix your boat for you, will you let me run it a little
while?"

"You mean show me how to run it?"

"No, I mean take it myself. Look here, Andy, my boat's been stolen,
and I thought you took it to get even with me. You say you didn't--"

"And I didn't touch it," interposed the squint-eyed lad quickly.

"All right, I believe you. But somebody stole it, and I think I know
who."

"Who?" asked Sam Snedecker.

"Well, you wouldn't know if I told you, but I suspect some men with
whom I had trouble before," and Tom referred to Happy Harry and his
gang. "I think they have my boat on this lake, and I'd like to get
another speedy craft to cruise about it and make a further search. How
about it, Andy? If I fix your boat, will you let me take it to look
for my boat?"

"Sure thing!" agreed the bully quickly, and his voice for once was
friendly toward Tom. "Fix the engine so it will run, and you can use
the RED STREAK as long as you like."

"Oh, I probably wouldn't want it very long. I could cover the lake in
about three days, and I hope by that time I could locate the thieves.
Is it a bargain?"

"Sure," agreed Andy again, and Tom got into the motor-boat to look at
the engine. He found that it would require some time to adjust it
properly and that it would be necessary to take the motor apart.

"I think I'd better tow you to my dock," the youn