A few days after the capture as Tom was in the boathouse making
some minor repairs to the motor he heard a voice calling:
"Mistah Swift, am yo' about?"
"Hello, Rad, is that you?" he inquired, recognizing the voice of
the colored owner of the mule Boomerang.
"Yais, sa, dat's me. I got a lettah fo' yo'. I were passin' de
post-office an' de clerk asted me to brung it to yo' 'case as how
it's marked 'hurry,' an' he said he hadn't seen yo' to-day."
"That's right. I've been so busy I haven't had time to go for the
mail," and Tom took the letter, giving Eradicate ten cents for his
trouble.
"Ha, that's good!" exclaimed Tom as he read it.
"Hab some one done gone an' left yo' a fortune, Mistah Swift?"
asked the negro.
"No, but it's almost as good. It's an invitation to take part in
the motor-boat races next week. I'd forgotten all about them. I
must get ready."
"Good land! Dat's all de risin' generation t'inks about now,"
observed Eradicate, "racin' an' goin' fast. Mah ole mule
Boomerang am good enough fo' me," and, shaking his head in a
woeful manner, Eradicate went on his way.
Tom told Mr. Sharp and his father of the proposed races of the
Lanton Motor-boat Club, and, as it was required that two persons
be in a craft the size of the ARROW, the young inventor arranged
for the balloonist to accompany him.
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