boat several days to make a complete circuit of the shore, so cut
up into bays and inlets was it.

In about an hour Tom was at Lanton, and as he neared the home of
Mr. Hastings, which was on the shore of the lake, he saw quite a
throng going down toward the boathouse.

"There'll be some lively bidding," thought Tom as he got off his
machine and pushed it ahead of him through the drive and down
toward the river. I hope they don't go above two hundred dollars,
though."

"Get out the way there!" called a sudden voice, and looking back,
Tom saw that an automobile had crept up silently behind him. In
it were Andy Foger and Sam Snedecker. "Why don't you get out the
way?" petulantly demanded the red-haired lad.

"Because I don't choose to," replied Tom calmly, knowing that Andy
would never dare to speed up his machine on the slope leading down
to the lake.

"Go ahead, bump him!" the young inventor heard Sam whisper.

"You'd better try it, if you want to get the best trouncing you
ever had!" cried Tom hotly.

"Hu! I s'pose you think you're going to bid on the boat?" sneered
Andy.

"Is there any law against it?" asked Tom.