"
"That's a good idea. Call it the Swift."
"Folks would say I was stuck up if I did that," retorted the youth
quickly. "I think I shall call it the ARROW. That's a good,
short name, and--"
"It's certainly speedy," interrupted Mr. Hastings. "Well now,
since you're not going to use the name CARLOPA, would you mind if
I took it for my new boat? I have a fancy for it."
"Not in the least," said Tom. "Don't you want the letters from
each side of the bow to put on your new craft?"
"It's very kind of you to offer them, and, since you will have no
need for them, I'll be glad to take them off."
"Come down to my boat," invited Tom, using the word "my" with a
proper pride, "and I'll take off the brass letters. I have a
screw driver in my motor-cycle tool bag."
As the former and present owners of the ARROW (which is the name
by which I shall hereafter designate Tom's motor-boat) walked down
toward the dock where it was moored the young inventor gave a
startled cry.
"What's the matter?" asked Mr. Hastings.
"That man! See him at my motor-boat?" cried Tom. He pointed to
the craft in the lake. A man was in the cockpit and seemed to be
doing something to the forward bulkhead, which closed off the
compartment holding the gasoline tank.
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