Glancing with critical eyes at the craft of his rival, Tom saw
that Andy Foger had a very fine boat. The young inventor also
realized that if he was to come anywhere near winning the race he
would have to get the utmost speed out of his engine, for the new
boat the bully had was designed primarily, for racing, while Tom's
was an all-around pleasure craft, though capable of something in
the speed line.

"I'll be giving you a tow in a few minutes, as soon as my engine
gets warmed up!" sneered Andy.

"Maybe," said Tom, and then he crouched down to make as little
resistance as possible to the wind. Andy, on the contrary, sat
boldly upright at the auto steering wheel of his boat.

On rushed the two motor craft, their prows exactly even and the
propellers tossing up a bulge in the water at their sterns.
Rapidly acquiring speed after the two lads had adjusted the timers
on their motors, the boats were racing side by side, seemingly on
even terms.

The RED STREAK had a very sharp prow, designed to cut through
the water. It was of the type known as an automobile launch.
That is, the engine was located forward, under a sort of hood,
which had two hinged covers like a bat's wings. The
steering-wheel shaft went through the forward bulkhead,
slantingly, like the wheel of an auto, and was arranged with
gasoline and sparking levers on the center post in a similar
manner. At the right of the wheel was a reversing lever, by
which the propeller blades could be set at neutral, or arranged