tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第20节
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out of the way of the big shoulder of South America where Brazil takes up
so much room； and as they went farther and farther toward the equator；
they noticed that the waters teemed more and more with fish； some
beautiful； some ugly and fear…inspiring； and some such monsters that it
made one shudder to look at them； even through the thick glass of the
bulls…eye windows。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Fifteen
At the Tropical Island
It was on the evening of the fourth day later that Captain Weston；
who was steering the craft； suddenly called out：
〃Land ho！〃
〃Where away？〃 inquired Tom quickly； for he had read that this was the
proper response to make。
〃Dead ahead；〃 answered the sailor with a smile。 〃Shall we make for it；
if I may be allowed the question？〃
〃What land is it likely to be？〃 Mr。 Swift wanted to know。
〃Oh； some small tropical island；〃 replied the seafaring man。 〃It isn't
down on the charts。 Probably it's too small to note。 I should say it was a
coral island； but we may be able to find a Spring of fresh water there； and
some fruit。〃
〃Then we'll land there；〃 decided the inventor。 〃We can use some fresh
water； though our distilling and ice apparatus does very well。〃
They made the island just at dusk； and anchored in a little lagoon；
where there was a good depth of water。
〃Now for shore！〃 cried Tom； as the submarine swung around on the
chain。 〃It looks like a fine place。 I hope there are cocoanuts and oranges
here。 Shall I get out the electric launch； dad？〃
〃Yes； you may； and we'll all go ashore。 It will do us good to stretch our
legs a bit。〃
Carried in a sort of pocket on the deck of the submarine was a small
electric boat； capable of holding six。 It could be slid from the pocket； or
depression； into the water without the use of davits； and； with Mr。 Sharp to
aid him； Tom soon had the little craft afloat。 The batteries were already
charged； and just as the sun was going down the gold…seekers entered the
launch and were soon on shore。
They found a good spring of water close at hand； and Tom's wish
regarding the cocoanuts was realized； though there were no oranges。 The
lad took several of the delicious nuts； and breaking them open poured the
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
milk into a collapsible cup he carried； drinking it eagerly。 The others
followed his example； and pronounced it the best beverage they had tasted
in a long time。
The island was a typical tropical one； not very large； and it did not
appear to have been often visited by man。 There were no animals to be
seen； but myriads of birds flew here and there amid the trees； the trailing
vines and streamers of moss。
〃Let's spend a day here to…morrow and explore it；〃 proposed Tom； and
his father nodded an assent。 They went back to the submarine as night was
beginning to gather； and in the cabin； after supper； talked over the
happenings of their trip so far。
〃Do you think we'll have any trouble getting the gold out of the
wrecked vessel？〃 asked Tom of Captain Weston； after a pause。
〃Well； it's hard to say。 I couldn't learn just how the wreck lays； whether
it's on a sandy or a rocky bottom。 If the latter； it won't be so hard； but if the
sand has worked in and partly covered it； we'll have some difficulties； if I
may be permitted to say so。 However； don't borrow trouble。 We're not
there yet； though at the rate we're traveling it won't be long before we
arrive。〃
No watch was set that night； as it was not considered necessary。 Tom
was the first to arise in the morning； and he went out on the deck for a
breath of fresh air before breakfast。
He looked off at the beautiful little island； and as his eye took in all of
the little lagoon where the submarine was anchored he uttered a startled
cry。
And well he might； for； not a hundred yards away； and nearer to the
island than was the Advance； floated another craftanother craft； almost
similar in shape and size to the one built by the Swifts。 Tom rubbed his
eyes to make sure he was not seeing double。 No； there could be no mistake
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
