Go ahead, put the auto in the
barn and I'll wait for you."
"I have a better plan than that," replied Mr. Damon. "Run your
boat down to that point," and he indicated one about a mile up the
lake. "I'll be there waiting for you, and we'll lose no time. I
can cover the ground faster in my auto than you can in your boat."
Tom saw the advantage of this and was soon under way, while he
heard on shore the puffing of his friend's car. On the trip to
the point Tom puzzled over the strange actions of the man in
taking one of the braces from under the gasoline tank.
"I'll wager he did it before," thought the lad. "It must be the
same person who was tampering with the lock of the forward
compartment the day I bought the boat. But why--that's the
question--why?"
He could find no answer to this, puzzle over it as he did, and he
gave it up. His whole desire now was to get on the trail of the
thieves, and he had strong hopes, after the clew Mr. Damon had
given him. The latter was waiting for him on the point, and so
nimble was the owner of the auto, in spite of his size, that Tom
was not delayed more than the fraction of a minute ere he was
under way again, speeding up the lake.
"Now keep well in toward shore," advised Mr. Damon. "Those
fellows don't want to be observed any more than they can help, and
they'll sneak along the bank, They were headed in that direction,"
and he pointed it out.
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