tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第25章
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Twenty…Three
Attacked by Sharks
For a few minutes after reaching the wreck； which had so occupied
their thoughts for the past weeks； the adventurers did nothing but gaze at it
from the ports of the submarine。 The appearance of the deep…water sharks
gave them no concern； for they did not imagine the ugly creatures would
attack them。 The treasure…seekers were more engrossed with the problem
of getting out the gold。
〃How are we going to get at it？〃 asked Tom； as he looked at the high
sides of the sunken ship； which towered well above the comparatively
small Advance。
〃Why； just go in and get it；〃 suggested Mr。 Damon。 〃Where is gold in a
cargo usually kept； Captain Weston？ You ought to know； I should think。
Bless my pocketbook！〃
〃Well； I should say that in this case the bullion would be kept in a safe
in the captain's cabin；〃 replied the sailor。 〃Or； if not there； in some after
part of the vessel； away from where the crew is quartered。 But it is going
to be quite a problem to get at it。 We can't climb the sides of the wreck；
and it will be impossible to lower her ladder over the side。 However； I
think we had better get into the diving suits and take a closer look。 We can
walk around her。〃
〃That's my idea；〃 put in Mr。 Sharp。 〃But who will go； and who will
stay with the ship？〃
〃I think Tom and Captain Weston had better go； suggested Mr。 Swift。
〃Then； in case anything happens； Mr。 Sharp； you and I will be on board to
manage matters。〃
〃You don't think anything will happen； do you； dad？〃 asked his son
with a laugh； but it was not an easy one； for the lad was thinking of the
shadowy forms of the ugly sharks。
〃Oh； no； but it's best to be prepared；〃 answered his father。
The captain and the young inventor lost no time in donning the diving
suits。 They each took a heavy metal bar； pointed at one end； to use in
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
assisting them to walk on the bed of the ocean； and as a protection in case
the sharks might attack them。 Entering the diving chamber； they were shut
in； and then water was admitted until the pressure was seen； by gages； to
be the same as that outside the submarine。 Then the sliding steel door was
opened。 At first Tom and the captain could barely move； so great was the
pressure of water on their bodies。 They would have been crushed but for
the protection afforded by the strong diving suits。
In a few minutes they became used to it； and stepped out on the floor
of the ocean。 They could not； of course； speak to each other； but Tom
looked through the glass eyes of his helmet at the captain； and the latter
motioned for the lad to follow。 The two divers could breathe perfectly； and
by means of small； but powerful lights on the helmets； the way was lighted
for them as they advanced。
Slowly they approached the wreck； and began a circuit of her。 They
could see several places where the pressure of the water； and the strain of
the storm in which she had foundered； had 'opened the plates of the ship；
but in no case were the openings large enough to admit a person。 Captain
Weston put his steel bar in one crack； and tried to pry it farther open； but
his strength was not equal to the task。 He made some peculiar motions； but
Tom could not understand them。
They looked for some means by which they could mount to the decks
of the Boldero； but none was visible。 It was like trying to scale a fifty…foot
smooth steel wall。 There was no place for a foothold。 Again the sailor
made some peculiar motions； and the lad puzzled over them。 They had
gone nearly around the wreck now； and as yet had seen no way in which to
get at the gold。 As they passed around the bow； which was in a deep
shadow from a great rock； they caught sight of the submarine lying a short
distance away。 Light streamed from many hull's…eyes； and Tom felt a sense
of security as he looked at her； for it was lonesome enough in that great
depth of water； unable to speak to his companion； who was a few feet in
advance。
Suddenly there was a swirling of the water； and Tom was nearly
thrown off his feet by the rush of some great body。 A long； black shadow
passed over his head； and an instant later he saw the form of a great shark
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
launched at Captain Weston。 The lad involuntarily cried in alarm； but the
result was surprising。 He was nearly deafened by his own voice； confined
as the sound was in the helmet he wore。 But the sailor； too； had felt the
movement of the water； and turned just in time。 He thrust upward with his
pointed bar。 But he missed the stroke； and Tom； a moment later； saw the
great fish turn over so that its mouth； which is far underneath its snout；
could take in the queer shape which the shark evidently thought was a
choice morsel。 The big fish did actually get the helmet of Captain Weston
inside its jaws； but probably it would have found it impossible to crush the
strong steel。 Still it might have sprung the joints； and water would have
entered； which would have been as fatal as though the sailor had been
swallowed by the shark。 Tom realized this and； moving as fast as he could
through the water； he came up behind the monster and drove his steel bar
deep into it。
The sea was crimsoned with blood； and the savage creature； opening
its mouth； let go of the captain。 It turned on Tom； who again harpooned it。
Then the fish darted off and began a wild flurry； for it was dying。 The rush
of water nearly threw Tom off his feet； but he managed to make his way
over to his friend； and assist him to rise。 A confident look from the sailor
showed the lad that Captain Weston was uninjured； though he must have
been frightened。 As the two turned to make their way back to the
submarine； the waters about them seemed alive with the horrible monsters。
It needed but a glance to show what they were； Sharks！ Scores of them；
long； black ones； with their ugly； undershot mouths。 They had been
attracted by the blood of the one Tom had killed； but there was not a meal
for all of them off the dying creature； and the great fish might turn on the
young inventor and his companion。
The two shrank closer toward the wreck。 They might get under the
prow of that and be safe。 But even as they started to move； several of the
sea wolves darted quickly at them。 Tom glanced at the captain。 What could
they do？ Strong as were the diving suits； a combined attack by the sharks；
with their powerful jaws； would do untold damage。
At that moment there seemed some movement on board the submarine。
Tom could see his father looking from the conning tower； and the aged
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
inventor seemed to be making some motions。 Then Tom understood。 Mr。
Swift was directing his son and Captain Weston to crouch down。 The lad
did so； pulling the sailor after him。 Then Tom saw the bow electric gun run
out； and aimed at the mass of sharks； most of whom were congregated
about the dead one。 Into the midst of the monsters was fired a number of
small projectiles； which could be used in the electric cannon in place of
the solid shot。 Once more the waters were red with blood； and those sharks
which were not killed swirled off。 Tom and Captain Weston were saved。
They were soon inside the submarine again。 telling their thrilling story。
〃It's lucky you saw us； dad；〃 remarked the lad； blushing at the praise
Mr。 Damon bestowed on him for killing the monster which had attacked
the captain。
〃Oh； I was on the lookout；〃 said the inventor。 〃But what about getting
into the wreck？〃
〃I think the only way we can do it will be to ram a hole in her side；〃
said Captain Weston。 〃That was what I tried to tell Tom by motions； but he
didn't seem to understand me。〃
〃No；〃 replied the lad； who was still a little nervous from his recent
experience。 〃I thought you meant for us to turn it over； bottom side up；〃
and he laughed。
〃Bless my gizzard！ Just like a shark；〃 commented Mr。 Damon。
〃Please don't mention them；〃 begged Tom。 〃I hope we don't see any
more of them。〃
〃Oh； I fancy they have been driven far enough away from this
neighborhood now；〃 commented the captain。 〃But now about the wreck。
We may be able to approach it from above。 Suppose we try to lower the
submarine on it？ That will save ripping it open。〃
This was tried a little later； but would not work。 There were strong
currents sweeping over the top of the Boldero； caused by a submerged reef
near which she had settled。 It was a delicate task to sink the submarine on
her decks； and with the deep waters swirling about was found to be
impossible； even with the use of the electric plates and the auxiliary
screws。 Once more the Advance settled to the ocean bed； near the wreck。
〃Well； what's to be done？〃 asked Tom； as he looked at the high steel
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
sides。
〃Ram her； tear a hole； and then use dynamite；〃 decided Captain
Weston promptly。 〃You have some explosive； haven't you； Mr。 Swift？〃
〃Oh； yes。 I came prepared for emergencies。〃
〃Then we'll blow up the wreck and get at the gold。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Twenty…Four
Ramming the Wreck
Fitted with a long； sharp steel ram in front； the Advance
