"In about four days. Ned Newton, will get his vacation then and
I'll have the canopy on. I'll start to work at it to-morrow.
Then we'll go on a trip."

Sandport was a summer resort at the extreme southern end of Lake
Carlopa, and Mr. Swift at once wrote to the Lakeview Hotel there
to engage a room for himself. In the meanwhile Tom began to put
the canopy on his boat and arrange for the trip, which would take
nearly a whole day. Ned Newton was delighted with the prospect of
a camping tour and helped Tom to get ready. They took a small
tent and plenty of supplies, with some food. They did not need to
carry many rations, as the shores of the lake were lined with
towns and villages where food could be procured.

Finally all was ready for the trip and the night before the start
Ned Newton stayed at Tom's house so as to be in readiness for
going off early in the morning. The day was all that could be
desired, Tom noted, as he and his chum hurried down to the dock
before breakfast to put their blankets in the boat. As the young
inventor entered the craft he uttered an exclamation.

"What's the matter?" asked Ned.

"I was sure I locked the sliding door of that forward
compartment," was the reply. "Now it's open." He looked inside
the space occupied by the gasoline tank and cried out: "One of
the braces is gone! There's been some one at my boat in the night
and they tried to damage her."

"Much harm done?" asked Ned anxiously.