gh overhauling," agreed the owner of
the ARROW. "I'll get at it to-morrow," and with that he swung out into
the lake, towing his rowboat after him.

"A motor-boat of my own!" exulted Tom as he twirled the steering wheel
and noted how readily the craft answered her helm. "This is great!"

He steered down the lake and then, turning around, went up it a mile or
more before heading for his own dock, as he wanted to see how the
engine behaved.

"With some changes and adjustments I can make this a speedy boat,"
thought Tom. "I'll get right at it. I shouldn't wonder if I could
make a good showing against Mr. Hastings' new CARLOPA, though his
boat's got four cylinders and mine has but two."

The lad was proceeding leisurely along the lakeshore, near his home,
with the motor throttled down to test it at low speed, when he heard
some one shout. Looking toward the bank, Tom saw a man waving his
hands.

"I wonder what he wants?" thought our hero as he put the wheel over to
send his craft to shore. He heard a moment later, for the man on the
bank cried:

"I say, my young friend, do you know anything about automobiles? Of
course you do or you wouldn't be running a motor-boat. Bless my very
existence, but I'm in trouble! My machine has stopped on a lonely road
and I can't seem to get it started. I happened to hear your boat and I
came here to hail you. Bless my coat-pockets but I am in trouble! Can
you help me? Bless my soul and gizzard!"

"Mr. Damon!" exclaimed Tom, shutting off the power, for he was now near
shore. "Of course I'll help you, Mr. Damon," for the young inventor
had recognized the eccentric man of whom he had purchased the
motor-cycle and who had helped him in rounding up the thieves.

"Why, bless my shoe-laces, if it isn't Tom Swift!" exclaimed Mr. Damon,
who seemed very fond of calling down blessings upon himself or upon
articles of his dress or person.

"Yes! I'm here," admitted Tom with a laugh.

"And in a motor-boat, too! Bless my pocketbook, but did that run away
with some one who sold it to you cheap?"

"No, not exactly," and the lad explained how he had come into
possession of it. By this time he was ashore and had tied the ARROW to
an overhanging tree. Then Tom proceeded to where Mr. Damon had left
his stalled automobile. The eccentric man was wealthy and his
physician had instructed him to ride about in the car for his health.
Tom soon located the trouble. The carburetor had bec