tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第16节
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entering the craft； and opening it。 〃We may run afoul of something； if you
don't mind me mentioning such a disagreeable subject。〃 Then； as he
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
thought of the impossibility of using his glass under water； he closed it。
〃I shall have little use for this here； I'm afraid；〃 he remarked with a
smile。 〃Well； there's some consolation。 We're not likely to meet many
ships in this part of the ocean。 Other vessels are fond enough of remaining
on the surface。 I fancy we shall have the depths to ourselves； unless we
meet a Government submarine； and they are hardly able to go as deep as
we can。 No； I guess we won't run into anything and I can put this glass
away。〃
〃Unless we run into Berg and his crowd；〃 suggested Tom in a low
voice。
〃Ha！ ha！〃 laughed Captain Weston； for he did not want Mr。 Swift to
worry over the unscrupulous agent。 〃No； I don't believe we'll meet them；
Tom。 I guess Berg is trying to work out the longitude and latitude I gave
him。 I wish I could see his face when he realizes that he's been deceived
by that fake map。〃
〃Well； I hope he doesn't discover it too soon and trail us；〃 went on the
lad。 〃But they're going to start the machinery now。 I suppose you and I had
better take charge of the steering of the craft。 Dad will want to be in the
engine…room。〃
〃All right；〃 replied the captain； and he moved forward with the lad to a
small compartment； shut off from the living…room； that served as a pilot
house when the conning tower was not used。 The same levers； wheels and
valves were there as up above； and the submarine could be managed as
well from there as from the other place。
〃Is everything all right？〃 asked Mn Swift as he went into the engine…
room； where Garret Jackson and Mr。 Sharp were busy with oil cans。
〃Everything；〃 replied the balloonist。 〃Are you going to start now？〃
〃Yes； we're deep enough for a speed trial。 We'll go out to sea； however；
and try for a lower depth record； as soon as there's enough water。 Start the
engine。〃
A moment later the powerful electric currents were flowing into the
forward and aft plates； and the Advance began to gather way； forging
through the water。
〃Straight ahead； out to sea； Tom；〃 called his father to him。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
〃Aye； aye； sir；〃 responded the youth。
〃Ha！ Quite seaman…like； if you don't mind a reference to it；〃
commented Captain Weston with a smile。 〃Mind your helm； boy； for you
don't want to poke her nose into a mud bank； or run up on a shoal。〃
〃Suppose you steer？〃 suggested the lad。 〃I'd rather take lessons for a
while。〃
〃All right。 Perhaps it will be safer。 I know these waters from the top；
though I can't say as much for the bottom。 However； I know where the
shoals are。〃
The powerful searchlight was turned； so as to send its beams along the
path which the submarine was to follow； and then； as she gathered speed；
she shot ahead； gliding through the waters like a fish。
Mr。 Damon divided his time between the forward pilot…room； the
living…apartment； and the place where Mr。 Swift； Garret Jackson and Mr。
Sharp were working over the engines。 Every few minutes he would bless
some part of himself； his clothing； or the ship。 Finally the old man settled
down to look through the plate…glass windows in the main apartment。
On and on went the submarine。 She behaved perfectly； and was under
excellent control。 Some times Tom； at the request of his father； would send
her toward the surface by means of the deflecting rudder。 Then she would
dive to the bottom again。 Once； as a test； she was sent obliquely to the
surface； her tower just emerging； and then she darted downward again；
like a porpoise that had come up to roll over； and suddenly concluded to
seek the depths。 In fact； had any one seen the maneuver they would have
imagined the craft was a big fish disporting itself。
Captain Weston remained at Tom's side； giving him instructions； and
watching the compass in order to direct the steering so as to avoid
collisions。 For an hour or more the craft was sent almost straight ahead at
medium speed。 Then Mr。 Swift； joining his son and the captain； remarked：
〃How about depth of water here； Captain Weston？〃
〃You've got more than a mile。〃
〃Good！ Then I'm going down to the bottom of the sea！ Tom； fill the
tanks still more。
〃Aye； aye； sir；〃 answered the lad gaily。 〃Now for a new experience！〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
〃And use the deflecting rudder； also；〃 advised his father。 〃That will
hasten matters。〃
Five minutes later there was a slight jar noticeable。
〃Bless my soul！ What's that？〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃Have we hit
something？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Tom with a smile。
〃What； for gracious sake？〃
〃The bottom of the sea。 We're on the bed of the ocean。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Twelve
For a Breath of Air
They could hardly realize it； yet the depth…gage told the story。 It
registered a distance below the surface of the ocean of five thousand seven
hundred feeta little over a mile。 The Advance had actually come to rest
on the bottom of the Atlantic。
〃Hurrah！〃 cried Tom。 〃Let's get on the diving suits； dad； and walk
about on land under water for a change。〃
〃No；〃 said Mr。 Swift soberly。 〃We will hardly have time for that now。
Besides； the suits are not yet fitted with the automatic air…tanks； and we
can't use them。 There are still some things to do before we start on our
treasure cruise。 But I want to see how the plates are standing this
pressure。〃
The Advance was made with a triple hull； the spaces between the
layers of plates being filled with a secret material； capable of withstanding
enormous pressure； as were also the plates themselves。 Mr。 Swift； aided by
Mr。 Jackson and Captain Weston； made a thorough examination； and
found that not a drop of water had leaked in； nor was there the least sign
that any of the plates had given way under the terrific strain。
〃She's as tight as a drum； if you will allow me to make that
comparison；〃 remarked Captain Weston modestly。 〃I couldn't ask for a
dryer ship。〃
〃Well； let's take a look around by means the searchlight and the
observation windows； and then we'll go back；〃 suggested Mr。 Swift。 〃It
will take about two days to get the stores and provisions aboard and rig up
the diving suits； then we will start for the sunken treasure。
There were several powerful searchlights on the Advance； so arranged
that the bow； stern or either side could be illuminated independently。 There
were also observation windows near each light。
In turn the powerful rays were cast first at the bow and then aft。 In the
gleams could be seen the sandy bed of the ocean； covered with shells of
various kinds。 Great crabs walked around on their long； jointed legs； and
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
Tom saw some lobsters that would have brought joy to the heart of a
fisherman。
〃Look at the big fish！〃 cried Mr。 Damon suddenly； and he pointed to
some dark； shadowy forms that swam up to the glass windows； evidently
puzzled by the light。
〃Porpoises；〃 declared Captain Weston briefly。 a whole school of
them。〃
The fish seemed suddenly to multiply； and soon those in the submarine
felt curious tremors running through the whole craft。
〃The fish are rubbing up against it；〃 cried Tom。 〃They must think we
came down here to allow them to scratch their backs on the steel p
