“Well, it needn’t delay our trip,” resumed the young inventor.  “Maybe there’s a hoodoo around here, and it will do us good to get away a few days.  Come on, we’ll have breakfast, get dad and start.”

A little later the arrow was puffing away up the lake in the direction of Sandport.

CHAPTER IX

MR. SWIFT IS ALARMED

“Don’t you feel better already, dad?” asked Tom that noon as they stopped under a leaning, overhanging tree for lunch on the shore of the lake.  “I’ll leave it to Ned if you don’t look more contented and less worried.”

“I believe he does,” agreed the other lad.  “Well, I must say I certainly have enjoyed the outing so far,” admitted the inventor with a smile.  “And I haven’t been bothering about my gyroscope.  I think I’ll take another sandwich, Tom, and a few more olives.”

“That’s the way to talk!” cried the son.  “Your appetite is improving, too.  If Mrs. Baggert could see you she’d say so.”

“Oh, yes, Mrs. Baggert.  I do hope she and Garret will look after the house and shops well,” said Mr. Swift, and the old, worried look came like a shadow over his face.

“Now don’t be thinking of that, dad,” advised Tom, “Of course everything will be all right.  Do you think some of those model thieves will return and try to get some of your other inventions?”

“I don’t know, Tom.  Those men were unscrupulous scoundrels, and you can never tell what they might do to revenge themselves on us for defeating their plans.”

“Well, I guess Garret and Mrs. Baggert will look out for them,” remarked his son.  “Don’t worry.”

“Yes, it’s bad for the digestion,” added Ned.  “If you don’t mind, Tom, I’ll have some more coffee and another sandwich myself.”

“Nothing the matter with your appetite, either,” commented the young inventor as he passed the coffee pot and the plate.

They were soon on their way again, the arrow making good time up the lake.  Tom was at the engine, making several minor adjustments to it, while Ned steered.  Mr. Swift reclined on one of the cushioned seats under the shade of the canopy.  The young owner of the arrow looked over the stretch of water from time to time for a possible sight of Andy Foger, but the red streak was not to be seen.  The Lakeview Hotel was reached late that afternoon and the boat was tied up to the dock, while Tom and Ned accompanied Mr. Swift to see him comfortably established in his room.

“Won’t you stay to supper with me?” invited the inventor to his son and the latter’s chum.  “Or do you want to start right in on camp life?”

“I guess we’ll stay to supper and remain at the hotel to-night,” decided Tom.  “We got here a little later than I expected, and Ned and I hardly have time to go very far and establish a temporary camp.  We’ll live a life of luxurious ease to-night and begin to be ‘wanderlusters’ and get back to nature to-morrow.”