y
neared the point where the machine had been left.

"Never mind about that," replied Mr. Damon. "It will do it good to
have a night's vacation. I will go on to your house with you, and
perhaps I can get a train back to my friend's home, so that I can claim
my car."

"Won't you stay all night with me?" invited the young inventor. "I'd
be glad to have you."

Mr. Damon agreed, and, Tom putting more speed on the RED STREAK, was
soon opposite his own dock. The ARROW was run in the boathouse and the
owner hastily told Mrs. Baggert and the engineer what had occurred.
Then he took Andy's boat to Mr. Foger's dock and warmly thanked the
red-haired lad for the use of his craft.

"Did you find your boat?" asked Andy eagerly. "How did the RED STREAK
run?"

"I got my boat and yours runs fine," explained Tom.

"Good! I'll race you again some day," declared Andy.

Mr. Damon enjoyed his visit at our hero's house, for Mrs. Baggert
cooked one of her best suppers for him. Tom and the engineer spent the
evening repairing the motor-boat, Mr. Damon looking on and exclaiming
"Bless my shoe leather" or some other part of his dress or anatomy at
every stage of the work. The engineer wanted to know all about the men
and their doings, but he could supply no reason for their queer actions
regarding the braces under the gasoline tank.

In the morning Tom once more prepared for an early start for Sandport,
and Mr. Damon, reconsidering his plans, rode as far with him as the
place where the automobile had been left. There he took leave of the
young inventor, promising to call on Mr. Swift in the near future.

"I hope you arrive at the hotel where your father is without any more
accidents," remarked the automobilist. "Bless my very existence, but
you seem to have the most remarkable series of adventures I ever heard
of!"

"They are rather odd," admitted Tom. "I don't know that I particularly
care for them, either. But, now that I have my boat back, I guess
everything will be all right."

But Tom could not look ahead. He was destined to have still more
exciting times, as presently will be related.

Without further incident he arrived at the Lakeview Hotel in Sandport
that evening and found his father and Ned very glad to see him. Of
course he had to explain everything then, and, with his son safely in
his sight, Mr. Swift was not so nervous over the recital as he would
have been had Tom not been present.

"Now for some ni