tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第10节
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toward the New Jersey coast。
A few miles out from Shopton； finding there was a contrary wind in
the upper regions where they were traveling； Mr。 Sharp descended several
hundred feet。 They were moving over a sparsely settled part of the country；
and looking down； Tom saw； speeding along a highway； an automobile。
〃I wonder who's in it？〃 he remarked； taking down a telescope and
peering over the window ledge of the cabin。 The next moment he uttered a
startled exclamation。
〃Andy Foger； Sam Snedecker and Pete Bailey！〃 he cried。 〃Oh； I
wish I had a bucket of water to empty on them。〃
〃I know a better way to get even with them than that；〃 said Mr。 Sharp。
〃How？〃 asked Tom eagerly。
〃I'll show you；〃 replied the balloonist。 〃It's a trick I once played on a
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
fellow who did me an injury。 Here； you steer for a minute until I get the
thing fixed； then I'll take charge。〃
Mr。 Sharp went to the storeroom and came back with a long； stout rope
and a small anchor of four prongs。 It was carried to be used in emergencies；
but so far had never been called into requisition。 Fastening the grapple to
the cable； the balloonist said：
〃Now； Tom； they haven't seen you。 You stand in the stern and pay out
the rope。 I'll steer the airship； and what I want you to do is to catch the
anchor in the rear of their car。 Then I'll show you some fun。〃
Tom followed instructions。 Slowly he lowered the rope with the
dangling grapple。 The airship was also sent down； as the cable was not
quite long enough to reach the earth from the height at which they were。
The engine was run at slow speed； so that the noise would not attract the
attention of the three cronies who were speeding along； all unconscious of
the craft in the air over their heads。 The Red Cloud was moving in the
same direction as was the automobile。
The anchor was now close to the rear of Andy's car。 Suddenly it caught
on the tonneau and Tom called that fact to Mr。 Sharp。
〃Fasten the rope at the cleat；〃 directed the balloonist。
Tom did so； and a moment later the aeronaut sent the airship up by
turning more gas into the container。 At the same time he reversed the
engine and the Red Cloud began pulling the touring car backward； also
lifting the rear wheels clear from the earth。
A startled cry from the occupants of the machine told Tom and his
friend that Andy and his cronies were aware something was wrong。 A
moment later Andy； looking up； saw the airship hovering in the air above
him。 Then he saw the rope fast to his auto。 The airship was not rising now；
or the auto would have been turned over； but it was slowly pulling it
backward； in spite of the fact that the motor of the car was still going。
〃Here！ You let go of me！〃 cried Andy。 〃I'll have you arrested if you
damage my car。〃
〃Come up here and cut the rope。〃 called Tom leaning over and looking
down。 He could enjoy the bully's discomfiture。 As for Sam and Pete； they
were much frightened； and cowered down on the floor of the tonneau。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
〃Maybe you'll shut me in the tank again and splash mud on me！〃
shouted Tom。
The rear wheels of the auto were lifted still higher from the ground； as
Mr。 Sharp turned on a little more gas。 Andy was not proof against this。
〃Oh！ oh！〃 he cried。 〃Please let me down； Tom。 I'm awful sorry for
what I did！ I'll never do it again！ Please； please let me down！ Don't You'll
tip me over！〃
He had shut off his motor now； and was frantically clinging to the
steering wheel。
〃Do you admit that you're a sneak and a coward？〃 asked Tom；
〃rubbing it in。〃
〃Yes； yes！ Oh； please let me down！〃
〃Shall we？〃 asked Tom of Mr。 Sharp。
〃Yes；〃 replied the balloonist。 〃We can afford to lose the rope and
anchor for the sake of turning the tables。 Cut the cable。〃
Tom saw what was intended。 Using a little hatchet； he severed the rope
with a single blow。 With a crash that could be heard up in the air where the
Red Cloud hovered； the rear wheels of the auto dropped to the ground。
Then came two loud reports。
〃Both tires busted！〃 commented Mr。 Sharp dryly； and Tom； looking
down； saw the trio of lads ruefully contemplating the collapsed rubber of
the rear wheels。 The tables had been effectually turned on Andy Foger。 His
auto was disabled； and the airship； with a graceful sweep； mounted higher
and higher； continuing on its way to the coast。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Seven
Mr。 Damon Will Go
〃Well； I guess they've had their lesson；〃 remarked Tom； as he took an
observation through the telescope and saw Andy and his cronies hard at
work trying to repair the ruptured tires。 〃That certainly was a corking good
trick。〃 〃Yes；〃 admitted Mr。 Sharp modestly。 〃I once did something
similar； only it was a horse and wagon instead of an auto。 But let's try for
another speed record。 The conditions are just right。〃
They arrived at the coast much sooner than they had dared to hope； the
Red Cloud proving herself a veritable wonder。
The remainder of that day； and part of the next； was spent in working
on the submarine。
〃We'll launch her day after to…morrow；〃 declared Mr。 Swift
enthusiastically。 〃Then to see whether my calculations are right or wrong。〃
〃It won't be your fault if it doesn't work；〃 said his son。 〃You certainly
have done your best。〃
〃And so have you and Mr。 Sharp and the others； for that matter。 Well； I
have no doubt but that everything will be all right； Tom。〃
〃There！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Sharp the next morning； as he was adjusting a
certain gage。 〃I knew I'd forget something。 That special brand of
lubricating oil。 I meant to bring it from Shopton； and I didn't。〃
〃Maybe I can get it in Atlantis；〃 suggested Tom； naming the coast city
nearest to them。 〃I'll take a walk over。 It isn't far。〃
〃Will you？ I'll be glad to have you；〃 resumed the balloonist。 〃A gallon
will be all we'll need。〃
Tom was soon on his way。 He had to walk； as the roads were too poor
to permit him to use the motor…cycle； and the airship attracted too much
attention to use on a short trip。 He was strolling along； when from the
other side of a row of sand dunes； that lined the uncertain road to Atlantis；
he heard some one speaking。 At first the tones were not distinct； but as the
lad drew nearer to the voice he heard an exclamation。
〃Bless my gold…headed cane！ I believe I'm lost。 He said it was out this
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
way somewhere； bet I don't see anything of it。 If I had that Eradicate
Sampson here now I'dbless my shoelaces I don't know what I would do
to him。〃
〃Mr。 Damon！ Mr。 Damon！〃 cried Tom。 〃Is that you？〃
〃Me？ Of course it's me！ Who else would it be？〃 answered the voice。
〃But who are you。 Why； bless my liver！ If it isn't Tom Swift！〃 he cried。
〃Oh； but I'm glad to see you！ I was afraid I was shipwrecked！ Bless my
gaiters； how are you； anyhow？ How is your father？ How is Mr。 Sharp； and
all the rest of them？〃
〃Pretty well。 And you？〃
〃Me？ Oh； I'm all right； only a trifle nervous。 I called at your house in
Shopton yesterday； and Eradicate told me； as well as he could； where you
were located。 I had nothing to do； so I thought I'd take a run down here。
But what's this I hear about you？ Are you going on a voyage？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃In the air？ May I go along again？ I certainly enjoyed my other trip in
the Red Cloud。 What is； all but the fire and being shot at。 May I go？〃
〃We're going on a different sort of trip this time；〃 said the youth。
〃Where？〃
〃Under water。〃
〃Under water？ Bless my sponge ba
