Tom Swift and His Motor-Boat | Page 7

could be fixed. It
was noticed that there was less enthusiasm over the matter than there
had been, for certainly the engine, rusty and out of order as it was, did
not present an attractive sight. Tom noted that the man, who had acted
so strangely, did not come down to the dock.
"Guess he can't be much interested in the motor," decided Tom.
"Now then, if it's all the same to you folks, I'll proceed with the auction
here," went on Mr. Wood. "You can all see the boat from here. It is, as
you see, a regular family launch and will carry twelve persons
comfortably. With a canopy fitted to it a person could cruise all about
the lake and stay out over night, for you could sleep on the seat
cushions. It is twenty-one feet in length and has a five-and-a-half-foot
beam, the design being what is known as a compromise stern. The
motor is a double- cylinder two-cycle one, of ten horsepower. It has a
float-feed carburetor, mechanical oiler, and the ignition system is the
jump- spark---the best for this style of motor. The boat will make ten
miles an hour, with twelve in, and, of course, more than that with a

lighter load. A good deal will depend on the way the motor is managed.
"Now, as you know, Mr. Hastings wishes to dispose of the boat partly
because he does not wish to repair it and partly because he has a newer
and larger one. The craft, which is named CARLOPA by the way, cost
originally nine hundred dollars. It could not be purchased new to day,
in many places, for a thousand. Now what am I offered in its present
condition? Will any one make an offer? Will you give me five hundred
dollars?"
The auctioneer paused and looked critically at the throng. Several
persons smiled. Tom looked worried. He had no idea that the price
would start so high.
"Well, perhaps that is a bit stiff," went on Mr. Wood. "Shall we say
four hundred dollars? Come now, I'm sure it's worth four hundred.
Who'll start it at four hundred?"
No one would, and the auctioneer descended to three hundred, then to
two and finally, as if impatient, he called out:
"Well, will any one start at fifty dollars?"
Instantly there were several cries of "I will!"
"I thought you would," went on the auctioneer. "Now we will get down
to work. I'm offered fifty dollars for this twenty-one foot, ten
horsepower family launch. Will any one make it sixty?"
"Sixty!" called out Andy Foger in a shrill voice. Several turned to look
at him.
"I didn't know he was going to bid," thought Tom. "He may go above
me. He's got plenty of money, and, while I have too, I'm not going to
pay too much for a damaged boat."
"Sixty I'm bid, sixty---sixty!" cried Mr. Wood in a sing-song tone,
"who'll make it seventy?"

"Sixty-five!" spoke a quiet voice at Tom's elbow, and he turned to see
the mysterious man who had joined the crowd at the edge of the lake.
"Sixty-five from the gentleman in the white straw hat!" called Mr.
Wood with a smile at his wit, for there were many men wearing white
straw hats, the day being a warm one in June.
"Here, who's bidding above me?" exclaimed Andy, as if it was against
the law.
"I guess you'll find a number going ahead of you, my young friend,"
remarked the auctioneer. "Will you have the goodness not to interrupt
me, except when you want to bid?"
"Well, I offered sixty," said the squint-eyed bully, while his crony, Sam
Snedecker, was vainly, pulling at his sleeve.
"I know you did, and this gentleman went above you. If you want to bid
more you can do so. I'm offered sixty-five, sixty-five I'm offered for
this boat. Will any one make it seventy-five?"
Mr. Wood looked at Tom, and our hero, thinking it was time for him to
make a bid, offered seventy. "Seventy from Tom Swift!" cried the
auctioneer. "There is a lad who knows a motor-boat from stem to stern,
if those are the right words. I don't know much about boats except what
I'm told, but Tom Swift does. Now, if he bids, you people ought to
know that it's all right. I'm bid seventy--- seventy I'm bid. Will any one
make it eighty?"
"Eighty!" exclaimed Andy Foger after a whispered conference with
Sam. "I know as much about boats as Tom Swift. I'll make it eighty."
"No side remarks. I'll do most of the talking. You just bid, young man,"
remarked Mr. Wood. "I have eighty bid for this boat-- -eighty dollars.
Why, my friends, I can't understand this. I ought to have it up to