tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第17章
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about it。 There was another submarine at the tropical island。
As he looked； some one emerged from the conning tower of the
second craft。 The figure seemed strangely familiar。 Tom knew in a
moment who it wasAddison Berg。 The agent saw the lad； too； and taking
off his cap and making a mocking bow； he called out：
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
〃Good morning！ Have you got the gold yet？〃
Tom did not know what to answer。 Seeing the other submarine； at an
island where he had supposed they would not be disturbed； was
disconcerting enough； but to be greeted by Berg was altogether too much；
Tom thought。 His fears that the rival boat builders would follow had not
been without foundation。
〃Rather surprised to see us； aren't you？〃 went on Mr。 Berg； smiling。
〃Rather；〃 admitted Tom； choking over the word。
〃Thought you'd be；〃 continued Berg。 〃We didn't expect to meet you so
soon； but we're glad we did。 I don't altogether like hunting for sunken
treasure； with such indefinite directions as I have。〃
〃Youare going to〃 stammered Tom； and then he concluded it would
be best not to say anything。 But his talk had been heard inside the
submarine。 His father came to the foot of the conning tower stairway。
〃To whom are you speaking； Tom？〃 he asked。
〃They're here； dad；〃 was the youth's answer。
〃Here？ Who are here？〃
〃Berg and his employers。 They've followed us； dad。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Sixteen
〃We'll Race You For It〃
Mr。 Swift hurried up on deck。 He was accompanied by Captain
Weston。 At the sight of Tom's father； Mr。 Berg； who had been joined by'
two other men； called out：
〃You see we also concluded to give up the trial for the Government
prize； Mr。 Swift。 We decided there was more money in something else。
But we still will have a good chance to try the merits of our respective
boats。 We hurried and got ours fitted up almost as soon as you did yours；
and I think we have the better craft。〃
〃I don't care to enter into any competition with you；〃 said Mr。 Swift
coldly。
〃Ah； but I'm afraid you'll have to； whether you want to or not；〃 was the
insolent reply。
〃What's that？ Do you mean to force this matter upon me？〃
〃I'm afraid I'll have tomy employers and I； that is。 You see； we
managed to pick up your trail after you left the Jersey coast； having an
idea where you were bound； and we don't intend to lose you now。〃
〃Do you mean to follow us？〃 asked Captain Weston softly。
〃Well； you can put it that way if you like；〃 answered one of the two
men with Mr。 Berg。
〃I forbid it！〃 cried Mr。 Swift hotly。 〃You have no right to sneak after
us。〃
〃I guess the ocean is free；〃 continued the rascally agent。
〃Why do you persist in keeping after us？〃 inquired the aged inventor；
thinking it well to ascertain； if possible； just how much the men knew。
〃Because we're after that treasure as well as you；〃 was the bold reply。
〃You have no exclusive right to it。 The sunken ship is awaiting the first
comer； and whoever gets there first can take the gold from the wreck。 We
intend to be there first； but we'll be fair with you。〃
〃Fair？ What do you mean？〃 demanded Tom。
〃This： We'll race you for it。 The first one to arrive will have the right to
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
search the wreck for the gold bullion。 Is that fair？ Do you agree to it？〃
〃We agree to nothing with you；〃 interrupted Captain Weston； his usual
diffident manner all gone。 〃I happen to be in partial command of this craft；
and I warn you that if I find you interfering with us it won't be healthy for
you。 I'm not fond of fighting； but when I begin I don't like to stop；〃 and he
smiled grimly。 〃You'd better not follow us。〃
〃We'll do as we please；〃 shouted the third member of the trio on the
deck of the other boat； which； as Tom could see； was named the Wonder。
〃We intend to get that gold if we can；〃
〃All right。 I've warned you；〃 went on the sailor； and then； motioning to
Tom and his father to follow； he went below。
〃Well； what's to be done？〃 asked Mr。 Swift when they were seated in
the living…room； and had informed the others of the presence of the rival
submarine。
〃The only thing I see to do is to sneak away unobserved； go as deep as
possible； and make all haste for the wreck；〃 advised the captain。 〃They
will depend on us； for they have evidently no chart of the wreck； though of
course the general location of it may be known to them from reading the
papers。 I hoped I had thrown them off the track by the false chart I
dropped； but it seems they were too smart for us。〃
〃Have they a right to follow us？〃 asked Tom。
〃Legally； but not morally。 We can't prevent them； I'm afraid。 The only
thing to do is to get there ahead of them。 It will be a race for the sunken
treasure； and we must get there first。〃
〃What do you propose doing； captain？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless my
shirt…studs； but can't we pull their ship up on the island and leave it there？〃
〃I'm afraid such high…handed proceedings would hardly answer；〃
replied Mr。 Swift。 〃No； as Captain Weston says； we must get there ahead
of them。 What do you think will be the best scheme； captain？〃
〃Well； there's no need for us to forego our plan to get fresh water。
Suppose we go to the island； that is； some of us； leaving a guard on board
here。 We'll fill our tanks with fresh water； and at night we'll quietly sink
below the surface and speed away。〃
They all voted that an excellent idea； and little time was lost putting it
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
into operation。
All the remainder of that day not a sign of life was visible about the
Wonder。 She lay inert on the surface of the lagoon； not far away from the
Advance； but； though no one showed himself on the deck； Tom and his
friends had no doubt but that their enemies were closely watching them。
As dusk settled down over The tropical sea； and as the shadows of the
trees on the little island lengthened； those on board the Advance closed the
Conning tower。 No lights were turned on； as they did not want their
movements to be seen； but Tom； his father and Mr。 Sharp took their
positions near the various machines and apparatus； ready to open the tanks
and let the submarine sink to the bottom； as soon as it was possible to do
this unobserved。
〃Luckily there's no moon；〃 remarked Captain Weston； as he took his
place beside Tom。 〃Once below the surface and we can defy them to find
us。 It is odd how they traced us； but I suppose that steamer gave them the
clue。〃
It rapidly grew dark； as it always does in the tropics； and when a
cautious observation from the conning tower did not disclose the outlines
of the other boat； those aboard the Advance rightly concluded that their
rivals were unable to see them。
〃Send her down； Tom；〃 called his father； and with a hiss the water
entered the tanks。 The submarine quickly sank below the surface； aided by
the deflecting rudder。
But alas for the hopes of the gold…seekers。 No sooner was she
completely submerged； with the engine started so as to send her out of the
lagoon and to the open sea； than the waters all about were made brilliant
by the phosphorescent phenomenon。 In southern waters this frequently
occurs。 Millions of tiny creatures； which； it is said； swarm in the warm
currents； give an appearance of fire to the ocean； and any object moving
through it can plainly be seen。 It was so with the Advance。 The motion she
made in shooting forward； and the undulations caused by her submersion；
seemed to start into activity the dormant phosphorus； and the submarine
was afloat in a sea of fire。
〃Quick！〃 cried Tom。 〃Speed her up！ Maybe we can get out of this
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patch of water before they see us。〃
But it was too late。 Above them they could hear the electric siren of the
Wonder as it was blown to let them know that their escape had been
noticed。 A moment later the water； which acted as a sort of sounding…board；
or telephone； brought to the ears of Tom Swift and his friends the noise of
the engines of the other craft in operation。 She was coming after them。 The
race for the possession of three hundred thousand dollars in gold was
already under way。 Fate seemed against those on board the Advance。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Seventeen
The Race
Directed by Captain Weston； who glanced at the compass and told
him which way to steer to clear the outer coral reef； Tom sent the
submarine ahead； signaling for full speed to the engine…room； where his
father and Mr。 Sharp were。 The big dynamos purred like great cats； as they
sent the electrical energy into the forward and aft plates； pulling and
pushing the Advance forward。 On and on she rushed under water； but ever
as she shot ahead the disturbance in the phosphorescent water showed her
position plainly。 She would be easy to follow。
〃Can't you get any more speed out of her？〃 asked the captain of the
lad。
〃Yes；〃 was the quick reply； 〃by using the auxiliary screws I think we
can。 I'll try it。〃
He signaled for the propellers
