tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第21章
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submarine trip； he said； and Mr。 Swift desired him to remain at the seaside
cottage and guard the shops； which contained much valuable machinery。
The airship was also left there。 〃Well； are we all ready？〃 asked Mr。 Swift
of the little party of gold…seekers； as they were about to enter the conning
tower hatchway of the submarine。
〃All ready； dad；〃 responded his son。
〃Then let's get aboard；〃 proposed Captain Weston。 〃But first let me
take an observation。〃
He swept the horizon with his telescope； and Tom noticed that the
sailor kept it fixed on one particular spot for some time。
〃Did you see anything？〃 asked the lad。
〃Well； there is a boat lying off there；〃 was the answer。 〃And some one
is observing us through a glass。 But I don't believe it matters。 Probably
they're only trying to see what sort of an odd fish we are。〃
〃All aboard； then；〃 ordered Mr。 Swift； and they went into the
submarine。 Tom and his father； with Captain Weston； remained in the
conning tower。 The signal was given； the electricity flowed into the
forward and aft plates； and the Advance shot ahead on the surface。
The sailor raised his telescope once more and peered through a
window in the tower。 He uttered an exclamation。
〃What's the matter？〃 asked Tom。
〃That other shipa small steameris weighing anchor and seems to be
heading this way；〃 was the reply。
〃Maybe it's some one hired by Berg to follow us and trace our
movements；〃 suggested Tom。
〃If it is we'll fool them；〃 added his father。 〃Just keep an eye on them；
captain； and I think we can show them a trick or two in a few minutes。〃
Faster shot the Advance through the water。 She had started on her way
to get the gold from the sunken wreck； but already enemies were on the
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
trail of the adventurers； for the ship the sailor had noticed was steaming
after them。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Fourteen
In the Diving Suits
There was no doubt that the steamer was coming after the submarine。
Several observations Captain Weston made confirmed this； and he
reported the fact to Mr。 Swift。
〃Well； we'll change our plans； then；〃 said the inventor。 〃Instead of
sailing on the surface we'll go below。 But first let them get near so they
may have the benefit of seeing what we do。 Tom； go below； please； and
tell Mr。 Sharp to get every thing in readiness for a quick descent。 We'll
slow up a bit now； and let them get nearer to us。〃
The speed of the submarine was reduced； and in a short time the
strange steamer had overhauled her； coming to within hailing distance。
Mr。 Swift signaled for the machinery to stop and the submarine came
to a halt on the surface； bobbing about like a half…submerged bottle。 The
inventor opened a bull's…eye in the tower； and called to a man on the
bridge of the steamer：
〃What are you following us for？〃
〃Following you？〃 repeated the man； for the strange vessel had also
come to a stop。 〃We're not following you。〃
〃It looks like it；〃 replied Mr。 Swift。 〃You'd better give it up。〃
〃I guess the waters are free；〃 was the quick retort。 〃We'll follow you if
we like。〃
〃Will you？ Then come on！〃 cried the inventor as he quickly closed the
heavy glass window and pulled a lever。 An instant later the submarine
began to sink； and Mr。 Swift could not help laughing as； just before the
tower went under water； he had a glimpse of the astonished face of the
man on the bridge。 The latter had evidently not expected such a move as
that。
Lower and lower in the water went the craft； until it was about two
hundred feet below the surface。 Then Mr。 Swift left the conning tower；
descended to the main part of the ship； and asked Tom and Captain Weston
to take charge of the pilot house。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
〃Send her ahead； Tom；〃 his father said。 〃That fellow up above is
rubbing his eyes yet； wondering where we are； I suppose。〃
Forward shot the Advance under water； the powerful electrical plates
pulling and pushing her on the way to secure the sunken gold。
All that morning a fairly moderate rate of speed was maintained； as it
was thought best not to run the new machinery too fast。
Dinner was eaten about a quarter of a mile below the surface； but no
one inside the submarine would ever have known it。 Electric lights made
the place as brilliant as could be desired； and the food； which Tom and Mr。
Damon prepared； was equal to any that could have been served on land。
After the meal they opened the shutters over the windows in the sides of
the craft； and looked at the myriads of fishes swimming past； as the
creatures were disclosed in the glare of the searchlight。
That night they were several hundred miles on their journey； for the
craft was speedy； and leaving Tom and Captain Weston to take the first
watch； the others went to bed。
〃Bless my soul； but it does seem odd； though； to go to bed under water；
like a fish；〃 remarked Mr。 Damon。 〃If my wife knew this she would worry
to death。 She thinks I'm off automobiling。 But this isn't half as dangerous
as riding in a car that's always getting out of order。 A submarine for mine；
every time。〃
〃Wait until we get to the end of this trip；〃 advised Tom。 〃I guess you'll
find almost as many things can happen in a submarine as can in an auto；〃
and future events were to prove the young inventor to be right。
Everything worked well that night； and the ship made good progress。
They rose to the surface the next morning to make sure of their position；
and to get fresh air； though they did not really need the latter； as the
reserve supply had not been drawn on； and was sufficient for several days；
now that the oxygen machine had been put in running order。
On the second day the ship was sent to the bottom and halted there； as
Mr。 Swift wished to try the new diving suits。 These were made of a new；
light； but very strong metal to withstand the pressure of a great depth。
Tom； Mr。 Sharp and Captain Weston donned the suits； the others
agreeing to wait until they saw how the first trial resulted。 Then； too； it
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
was necessary for some one acquainted with the machinery to remain in
the ship to operate the door and water chamber through which the divers
had to pass to get out。
The usual plan； with some changes； was followed in letting the three
out of the boat； and on to the bottom of the sea。 They entered a chamber in
the side of the submarine； water was gradually admitted until it equaled in
pressure that outside； then an outer door was opened by means of levers；
and they could step out
It was a curious sensation to Tom and
