“Keep quiet,” begged Sam Snedecker.  “People are laughing at you, Andy.”

“I don’t care if they are,” muttered the sandy haired youth.  “Tom Swift needn’t think he’s everything.”

“If you will come down to the dock,” went on the auctioneer, “you can all see the boat, and I would be glad to have young Mr. Swift give us the benefit of his advice.”

The throng trooped down to the lake, and, blushing somewhat, Tom told what was the matter with the motor and how it 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.