Early the next morning, alone in the red streak, Tom continued the search for his stolen boat.  He started out from his home dock and mapped out a course that would take him well around the lake.

“I s’pose I could take a run to Sandport now,” mused the youth as he shot in and out of the little bays, keeping watch for the arrow.  “But if I do dad will have to be told all about it, and, he’ll worry.  Then, too, he might want to accompany me, and I think I can manage this better alone, for the red streak will run faster with only one in.  I ought to wind up this search in two days, if my boat is still on the lake.  And if those scoundrels have sunk her I’ll make them pay for it.”

On shot the speedy motor-boat, in and out along the winding shoreline, with the lad in the bow at the steering-wheel peering with eager eyes into every nook and corner where his craft might be hidden.

CHAPTER XVII

“There she is!”

Anticipating that he would be some time on his search, the young inventor had gone prepared for it.  He had a supply of provisions and he had told Mrs. Baggert he might not be back that night.  But he did not intend to sleep aboard the red streak, which, being a racing boat, was not large enough to afford much room for passengers.  Tom had planned, therefore, to put up at some hotel near the lake in case his hunt should last beyond one night.

That it would do this was almost certain, for all that morning he searched unavailingly for the arrow.  A distant mill whistle sounding over Lake Carlopa told him it was noon.

“Dinner time,” he announced to himself.  “Guess I’ll run up along shore in the shade and eat.”

Selecting a place where the trees overhung the water, forming a quiet, cool nook, Tom sent the boat in there, and, tying it to a leaning tree, he began his simple meal.  Various thoughts filled his mind, but chief among them was the desire to overtake the thieves who had his boat.  That it was Happy Harry’s gang he was positive.

The lad nearly finished eating and was considering what direction he might best search in next when he heard, running along a road that bordered the lake, an automobile.

“Wonder who that is?” mused Tom.  “It won’t do any harm to take a look, for it might be some of those thieves again.  They probably still have their auto or Happy Harry couldn’t have gotten from Sandport to Shopton so quickly.”

The young inventor slipped ashore from the motor-boat, taking care to make no noise.  Stealing silently along toward the road, he peered through the underbrush for a sight of the machine, which seemed to be going slowly.  But before the youth had a glimpse of it he was made aware who the occupant was by hearing someone exclaim: 

“Bless my shoe laces if this cantankerous contraption isn’t going wrong again!  I wonder if it’s going to have a fit here in this lonely place.  It acts just as if it was.  Bless my very existence!  Hold on now.  Be nice!  Be nice!”