“I hardly think I can win,” Tom remarked to himself in a whisper.  “His boat is too speedy for this one.  I have a chance, though, for his engine is new, and I don’t believe he understands it as well as I do mine.  Then, too, I am sure I have a better ignition system.”

But if Tom had any immediate hopes of defeating Andy, they were doomed to disappointment, for about two minutes after the race started the red streak forged slowly ahead.

“Come on!” cried the red-haired lad.  “I thought you wanted a race.”

“I do,” answered the young inventor.  “We’re a long way from the dock yet, and we’ve got to come back.”

“You’ll be out of it by the time I get to the dock,” declared Andy.

Indeed it began to look so, for the auto boat was now a full length ahead of Tom’s craft and there was open water between them.  But our hero knew a thing or two about racing, though he had not long been a motor-boat owner.  He adjusted the automatic oiler on the cylinders to give more lubrication, as he intended to get more speed out of his engine.  Then he opened the gasoline cock a trifle more and set his timer forward a few notches to get an earlier spark.  He was not going to use the maximum speed just yet, but he first wanted to see how the motor of the arrow would behave under these conditions.  To his delight he saw his boat slowly creeping up on Andy’s.  The latter, with a glance over his shoulder, saw it too, and he advanced his spark.  His craft forged ahead, but the rate of increase was not equal to Tom’s.  “If I can keep up to him I suppose I ought to be glad,” thought the young inventor, “for his boat is away ahead of mine in rating.”

Through the water the sharp bows cut.  There were only a few witnesses to the race, but those who were out in boats saw a pretty sight as the two speedy craft came on toward the dock, which was the turning point.

Andy’s boat reached it first, and swung about in a wide circle for the return.  Tom decided it was time to make his boat do its best, so he set the timer at the limit, and the spark, coming more quickly, increased the explosions.

Up shot the arrow and, straightening out after the turn, Tom’s craft crept along until it lapped the stern of the red streak.  Andy looked back in dismay.  Then he tried to get more speed out of his engine.  He did cause the screw to revolve a little faster, and Tom noted that he was again being left behind.  Then one of those things, which may happen at any time to a gasoline motor, happened to Andy’s.  It began to miss explosions.  At first it was only occasionally, then the misses became more frequent.

The owner of the red streak with one hand on the steering wheel, tried with the other to adjust the motor to get rid of the trouble, but he only made it worse.  Andy’s boat began to fall back and Tom’s to creep up.  Frantically Andy worked the gasoline and sparking levers, but without avail.  At last one cylinder went completely out of service.