tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第16章
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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 the others to feel that they were
actually walking along the bed of the ocean。 All around them was the
water； and as they turned on the small electric lights in their helmets；
which lights were fed by storage batteries fastened to the diving suits； they
saw the fish； big and little； swarm up to them； doubtless astonished at the
odd creatures which had entered their domain。 On the sand of the bottom；
and in and out among the shells and rocks； crawled great spider crabs； big
eels and other odd creatures seldom seen on the surface of the water。 The
three divers found no difficulty in breathing； as there were air tanks
fastened to their shoulders； and a constant supply of oxygen was fed
through pipes into the helmets。 The pressure of water did not bother them；
and after the first sensation Tom began to enjoy the novelty of it。 At first
the inability to speak to his companions seemed odd； but he soon got so he
could make signs and motions； and be understood。
They walked about for some time； and once the lad came upon a part
of a wrecked vessel buried deep in the sand。 There was no telling what
ship it was； nor how long it had been there； and after silently viewing it。
they continued on
〃It was great！〃 were the first words Tom uttered when he and the
others were once more inside the submarine and had removed the suits。 〃If
we can only walk around the wreck of the Boldero that way； we'll have all
the gold out of her in no time。 There are no life…lines nor air…hose to bother
with in these diving suits。〃
〃They certainly are a success；〃 conceded Mr。 Sharp。
〃Bless my topknot！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃I'll try it next time。 I've always
wanted to be a diver； and now I have the chance。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
The trip was resumed after the diving chamber had been closed； and
on the third day Captain Weston announced； after a look at his chart； that
they were nearing the Bahama Islands。
〃We'll have to be careful not to run into any of the small keys；〃 he said；
that being the name for the many little points of land； hardly large enough
to be dignified by the name of island。 〃We must keep a constant lookout。〃
Fortune favored them； though once； when Tom was steering； he
narrowly avoided ramming a coral reef with the submarine。 The
searchlight showed it to him just in time； and he sheered off with a
thumping in his heart。
The course was changed from south to east； so as to get ready to swing
out of the way of the big shoulder of South America where Brazil takes up
so much room； and as they went farther and farther toward the equator；
they noticed that the waters teemed more and more with fish； some
beautiful； some ugly and fear…inspiring； and some such monsters that it
made one shudder to look at them； even through the thick glass of the
bulls…eye windows。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Fifteen
At the Tropical Island
It was on the evening of the fourth day later that Captain Weston；
who was steering the craft； suddenly called out：
〃Land ho！〃
〃Where away？〃 inquired Tom quickly； for he had read that this was the
proper response to make。
〃Dead ahead；〃 answered the sailor with a smile。 〃Shall we make for it；
if I may be allowed the question？〃
〃What land is it likely to be？〃 Mr。 Swift wanted to know。
〃Oh； some small tropical island；〃 replied the seafaring man。 〃It isn't
down on the charts。 Probably it's too small to note。 I should say it was a
coral island； but we may be able to find a Spring of fresh water there； and
some fruit。〃
〃Then we'll land there；〃 decided the inventor。 〃We can use some fresh
water； though our distilling and ice apparatus does very well。〃
They made the island just at dusk； and anchored in a little lagoon；
where there was a good depth of water。
〃Now for shore！〃 cried Tom； as the submarine swung around on the
chain。 〃It looks like a fine place。 I hope there are cocoanuts and oranges
here。 Shall I get out the electric launch； dad？〃
〃Yes； you may； and we'll all go ashore。 It will do us good to stretch our
legs a bit。〃
Carried in a sort of pocket on the deck of the submarine was a small
electric boat； capable of holding six。 It could be slid from the pocket； or
depression； into the water without the use of davits； and； with Mr。 Sharp to
aid him； Tom soon had the little craft afloat。 The batteries were already
charged； and just as the sun was going down the gold…seekers entered the
launch and were soon on shore。
They found a good spring of water close at hand； and Tom's wish
regarding the cocoanuts was realized； though there were no oranges。 The
lad took several of the delicious nuts； and breaking them open poured the
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
milk into a collapsible cup he carried； drinking it eagerly。 The others
followed his example； and pronounced it the best beverage they had tasted
in a long time。
The island was a typical tropical one； not very large； and it did not
appear to have been often visited by man。 There were no animals to be
seen； but myriads of birds flew here and there amid the trees； the trailing
vines and streamers of moss。
〃Let's spend a day here to…morrow and explore it；〃 proposed Tom； and
his father nodded an assent。 They went back to the submarine as night was
beginning to gather； and in the cabin； after supper； talked over the
happenings of their trip so far。
〃Do you think we'll have any trouble getting the gold out of the
wrecked vessel？〃 asked Tom of Captain Weston； after a pause。
〃Well； it's hard to say。 I couldn't learn just how the wreck lays； whether
it's on a sandy or a rocky bottom。 If the latter； it won't be so hard； but if the
sand has worked in and partly covered it； we'll have some difficulties； if I
may be permitted to say so。 However； don't borrow trouble。 We're not
there yet； though at the rate we're traveling it won't be long before we
arrive。〃
No watch was set that night； as it was not considered necessary。 Tom
was the first to arise in the morning； and he went out on the deck for a
breath of fresh air before breakfast。
He looked off at the beautiful little island； and as his eye took in all of
the little lagoon where the submarine was anchored he uttered a startled
cry。
And well he might； for； not a hundred yards away； and nearer to the
island than was the Advance； floated another craftanother craft； almost
similar in shape and size to the one built by the Swifts。 Tom rubbed his
eyes to make sure he was not seeing double。 No； there could be no mistake
about it。 There was another submarine at the tropical island。
As he looked；
