e it from him, and when they ran away from the old
mansion, the time Mr. Damon and I raided the place, they left the boat
on the lake. I turned it over to the county authorities, and they
found out it belonged to Mr. Hastings. He has it back now, but I
understand it's somewhat damaged, and he wants to get rid of it. He's
going to sell it at auction to-day, and I thought I'd go over and take
a look at it. You see--"

"Yes, I see, Tom," exclaimed Mr. Swift with a laugh. "I see what
you're aiming at. You want a motor-boat, and you're going all around
Robin Hood's barn to get at it."

"No, dad, I only--"

"Oh, I know you, Tom, my lad!" interrupted the inventor, shaking his
finger at his son, who seemed somewhat confused. "You have a nice
rowing skiff and a sailboat, yet you are hankering for a motor-boat.
Come now, own up. Aren't you?"

"Well, dad, a motor-boat certainly would go fine on Lake Carlopa.
There's plenty of room to speed her, and I wonder there aren't more of
them. I was going to see what Mr. Hastings' boat would sell for, but I
didn't exactly think of buying it' Still--"

"But you wouldn't buy a damaged boat, would you?"

"It isn't much damaged," and in his eagerness the young inventor (for
Tom Swift had taken out several patents) stood his motor-cycle up
against the fence and came closer to his father. "It's only slightly
damaged," he went on. "I can easily fix it. I looked it all over
before I gave it in charge of the authorities, and it's certainly a
fine boat. It's worth nine hundred dollars--or it was when it was new."

"That's a good deal of money for a boat," and Mr. Swift looked serious,
for though he was well off, he was inclined to be conservative.

"Oh, I shouldn't think of paying that much. In fact, dad, I really had
no idea of bidding at the auction. I only thought I'd go over and get
an idea of what the boat might sell for. Perhaps some day--"

Tom paused. Since his father had begun to question him some new plans
had come into the lad's head. He looked at his parent and saw a smile
beginning to work around the corners of Mr. Swift's lips. There was
also a humorous look in the eyes of the older inventor. He understood
boys fairly well, even if he only had one, and he knew Tom perfectly.

"Would you really like to make a bid on that boat Tom?" he asked.

"Would I, dad? Well--" The youth did not finish, but his father knew
what he meant.

"I suppose a motor-boat would