of the stranger, he forgot about that in anticipating the pleasure
he would have when the motor-boat was in running order.

"I'll take dad off on a cruise about the lake," he decided. "He
needs a rest, for he's been working hard and worrying over the
theft of the turbine motor model. I'll take Ned Newton for some
rides, too, and he can bring his camera along and get a lot of
pictures. Oh, I'll have some jolly sport this summer!"

Tom was riding swiftly along a quiet country road and was
approaching a steep hill, which he could not see until he was
close to it, owing to a sharp turn.

As he was about to swing around it and coast swiftly down the
steep declivity he was startled by hearing a voice calling to him
from the bushes at the side of the road.

"Hold on, dar I Hold on, Mistah Swift!" cried a colored man,
suddenly popping into view. "Doan't go down dat hill."

"Why, it's Eradicate Sampson!" exclaimed Tom, quickly shutting off
the power and applying the brakes. "What's the matter, Rad? Why
shouldn't I go down that hill?"

"Beca'se, Mistah Swift, dere's a pow'ful monstrous tree trunk
right across de road at a place whar yo' cain't see it till yo'
gits right on top ob it. Ef yo' done hit dat ar tree on yo'
lickity-split machine, yo' suah would land in kingdom come.
Doan't go down dat hill!"