tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第24章
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
enough down so that her lights would not offer a mark for the guns of the
warship； the electrics were switched on。
〃We're safe now！〃 cried Tom； helping his father to his cabin。 〃They've
got too much to attend to themselves to follow us now； even if they could。
Shall we go ahead； Captain Weston？〃
〃I think so； yes； if I may be allowed to express my opinion；〃 was the
mild reply； in strange contrast to the strenuous work in which the captain
had just been engaged。
Tom signaled to Mr。 Sharp in the engine…room； and in a few seconds
the Advance was speeding away from the island and the hostile vessel。
Nor； deep as she was now； was there any sign of the hurricane。 In the
peaceful depths she was once more speeding toward the sunken treasure。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Twenty…Two
At the Wreck
〃Well；〃 remarked Mr。 Damon； as the submarine hurled herself
forward through the ocean； 〃I guess that firing party will have something
else to do to…morrow morning besides aiming those rifles at us。〃
〃Yes； indeed；〃 agreed Tom。 〃They'll be lucky if they save their ship。
My； how that wind did blow！〃
〃You're right；〃 put in Captain Weston。 〃When they get a hurricane
down in this region it's no cat's paw。 But they were a mighty careless lot of
sailors。 The idea of leaving the ladder over the side； and the boat in the
water。〃
〃It was a good thing for us； though；〃 was Tom's opinion。
〃Indeed it was；〃 came from the captain。 〃But as long as we are safe
now I think we'd better take a look about the craft to see if those chaps did
any damage。 They can't have done much； though； or she wouldn't be
running so smoothly。 Suppose you go take a look； Tom； and ask your
father and Mr。 Sharp what they think。 I'll steer for a while； until we get
well away from the island。〃
The young inventor found his father and the balloonist busy in the
engine…room。 Mr。 Swift had already begun an inspection of the machinery；
and so far found that it had not been injured。 A further inspection showed
that no damage had been done by the foreign guard that had been in
temporary possession of the Advance； though the sailors had made free in
the cabins； and had broken into the food lockers； helping themselves
plentifully。 But there was still enough for the gold…seekers。
〃You'd never know there was a storm raging up above；〃 observed Tom
as he rejoined Captain Weston in the lower pilot house； where he was
managing the craft。 〃It's as still and peaceful here as one could wish。〃
〃Yes； the extreme depths are seldom disturbed by a surface storm。 But
we are over a mile deep now。 I sent her down a little while you were gone；
as I think she rides a little more steadily。〃
All that night they speeded forward； and the next day； rising to the
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
surface to take an observation； they found no traces of the storm； which
had blown itself out。 They were several hundred miles away from the
hostile warship； and there was not a vessel in sight on the broad expanse
of blue ocean。
The air tanks were refilled； and after sailing along on the surface for an
hour or two； the submarine was again sent below； as Captain Weston
sighted through his telescope the smoke of a distant steamer。
〃As long as it isn't the Wonder； we're all right；〃 said Tom。 〃Still； we
don't want to answer a lot of questions about ourselves and our object。〃
〃No。 I fancy the Wonder will give up the search；〃 remarked the captain；
as the Advance was sinking to the depths。
〃We must be getting pretty near to the end of our search ourselves；〃
ventured the young inventor。
〃We are within five hundred miles of the intersection of the forty…fifth
parallel and the twenty…seventh meridian； east from Washington；〃 said the
captain。 〃That's as near as I could locate the wreck。 Once we reach that
point we will have to search about under water； for I don't fancy the other
divers left any buoys to mark the spot。〃
It was two days later； after uneventful sailing； partly on the surface；
and partly submerged； that Captain Weston； taking a noon observation；
announced：
〃Well； we're here！〃
〃Do you mean at the wreck？〃 asked Mr。 Swift eagerly。
〃We're at the place where she is supposed to lie； in about two miles of
water；〃 replied the captain。 〃We are quite a distance off the coast of
Uruguay； about opposite the harbor of Rio de La Plata。 From now on we
shall have to nose about under water； and trust to luck。〃
With her air tanks filled to their capacity； and Tom having seen that the
oxygen machine and other apparatus was in perfect working order； the
submarine was sent below on her search。 Though they were in the
neighborhood of the wreck； the adventurers might still have to do
considerable searching before locating it。 Lower and lower they sank into
the depths of the sea； down and down； until they were deeper than they
had ever gone before。 The pressure was tremendous； but the steel sides of
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
the Advance withstood it
Then began a search that lasted nearly a week。 Back and forth they
cruised； around in great circles； with the powerful searchlight focused to
disclose the sunken treasure ship。 Once Tom； who was observing the path
of light in the depths from the conning tower； thought he had seen the
remains of the Boldero； for a misty shape loomed up in front of the
submarine； and he signaled for a quick stop。 It was a wreck； but it had
been on the ocean bed for a score of years； and only a few timbers
remained of what had been a great ship。 Much disappointed； Tom rang for
full speed ahead again； and the current was sent into the great electric
plates that pulled and pushed the submarine forward。
For two days more nothing happened。 They searched around under the
green waters； on the alert for the first sign； but they saw nothing。 Great
fish swam about them； sometimes racing with the Advance。 The
adventurers beheld great ocean caverns； and skirted immense rocks； where
dwelt monsters of the deep。 Once a great octopus tried to do battle with
the submarine and crush it in its snaky arms； but Tom saw the great white
body； with saucer…shaped eyes； in the path of light and rammed him with
the steel point。 The creature died after a struggle。
They were beginning to despair when a full week had passed and they
were seemingly as far from the wreck as ever。 They went to the surface to
enable Captain Weston to take another observation。 It only confirmed the
other； and showed that they were in the right vicinity。 But it was like
looking for a needle in a haystack； almost； to and the sunken ship in that
depth of water。
〃Well； we'll try again；〃 said Mr。 Swift； as they sank once more beneath
the surface。
It was toward evening； on the second day after this； that Tom； who was
on duty in the conning tower； saw a black shape looming up in front of the
submarine； the searchlight revealing it to him far enough away so that he
could steer to avoid it。 He thought at first that it was a great rock； for they
were moving along near the bottom； but the peculiar shape of it soon
convinced him that this could not be。 It came more plainly into view as the
submarine approached it more slowly； then suddenly； out of the depths in
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the illumination from the searchlight； the young inventor saw the steel
sides of a steamer。 His heart gave a great thump； but he would not call out
yet； fearing that it might be some other vessel than the one containing the
treasure。
He steered the Advance so as to circle it。 As he swept past the bows he
saw in big letters near the sharp prow the word； Boldero。
〃The wreck！ The wreck！〃 he cried； his voice ringing through the craft
from end to end。 〃We've found the wreck at last！〃
〃Are you sure？〃 cried his father； hurrying to his son； Captain Weston
following。
〃Positive；〃 answered the lad。 The submarine was slowing up now； and
Tom sent her around on the other side。 They had a good view of the
sunken ship。 It seemed to be intact； no gaping holes in her sides； for only
her plates had started； allowing her to sink gradually。
〃At last；〃 murmured Mr。 Swift。 〃Can it be possible we are about to get
the treasure？〃
〃That's the Boldero； all right；〃 affirmed Captain Weston。 〃I recognize
her； even if the name wasn't on her bow。 Go right down on the bottom；
Tom； and we'll get out the diving suits and make an examination。〃
The submarine settled to the ocean bed。 Tom glanced at the depth gage。
It showed over two miles and a half。 Would they be able to venture out
into water of such enormous pressure in the comparatively frail diving
suits； and wrest the gold from the wreck？ It was a serious question。
The Advance came to a stop。 In front of her loomed the great bulk of
the Boldero； vague and shadowy in the flickering gleam of the searchlight
As the gold…seekers looked at her through the bull's…eyes of the conning
tower； several great forms emerged from beneath the wreck's bows。
〃Deep…water sharks！〃 exclaimed Captain Weston； 〃and monsters； too。
But they can't bother us。 Now to get out the gold！〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARIN
