"Well, Tom, we must start early," he said nervously. "I am glad
it has cleared off. Is the boat all ready?"
"Yes, and it's a good thing it was under shelter last night or
we'd have to bail it out now, and that would delay us."
An hour later they were under way, having telephoned to the
engineer at the Swift home that they were coming. Garret Jackson
reported over the wire that he had notified the Shopton police of
the robbery, but that little could be done until the inventor
arrived to give a description of the stolen articles.
"And that will do little good, I fear," remarked Tom. "Those
fellows have evidently been planning this for some time and will
cover their tracks well. I'd like to catch them, not only to
recover your things, dad, but to find out the mystery of my boat
and why the man took the tank braces."
CHAPTER XXI
THE BALLOON ON FIRE
Down Lake Carlopa speeded the ARROW, those on board watching the
banks slip past as the motor-boat rapidly cut through the water.
"What time do you think we ought to reach home, Tom?" asked Mr.
Swift.
"Oh, about four o'clock, if we don't stop for lunch."
"Then we'll not stop," decided the inventor. "We'll eat what we
have on board. I suppose you have some rations?" and he smiled,
the first time since hearing the bad news.
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