tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第21节
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
search the wreck for the gold bullion。 Is that fair？ Do you agree to it？〃
〃We agree to nothing with you；〃 interrupted Captain Weston； his usual
diffident manner all gone。 〃I happen to be in partial command of this craft；
and I warn you that if I find you interfering with us it won't be healthy for
you。 I'm not fond of fighting； but when I begin I don't like to stop；〃 and he
smiled grimly。 〃You'd better not follow us。〃
〃We'll do as we please；〃 shouted the third member of the trio on the
deck of the other boat； which； as Tom could see； was named the Wonder。
〃We intend to get that gold if we can；〃
〃All right。 I've warned you；〃 went on the sailor； and then； motioning to
Tom and his father to follow； he went below。
〃Well； what's to be done？〃 asked Mr。 Swift when they were seated in
the living…room； and had informed the others of the presence of the rival
submarine。
〃The only thing I see to do is to sneak away unobserved； go as deep as
possible； and make all haste for the wreck；〃 advised the captain。 〃They
will depend on us； for they have evidently no chart of the wreck； though of
course the general location of it may be known to them from reading the
papers。 I hoped I had thrown them off the track by the false chart I
dropped； but it seems they were too smart for us。〃
〃Have they a right to follow us？〃 asked Tom。
〃Legally； but not morally。 We can't prevent them； I'm afraid。 The only
thing to do is to get there ahead of them。 It will be a race for the sunken
treasure； and we must get there first。〃
〃What do you propose doing； captain？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless my
shirt…studs； but can't we pull their ship up on the island and leave it there？〃
〃I'm afraid such high…handed proceedings would hardly answer；〃
replied Mr。 Swift。 〃No； as Captain Weston says； we must get there ahead
of them。 What do you think will be the best scheme； captain？〃
〃Well； there's no need for us to forego our plan to get fresh water。
Suppose we go to the island； that is； some of us； leaving a guard on board
here。 We'll fill our tanks with fresh water； and at night we'll quietly sink
below the surface and speed away。〃
They all voted that an excellent idea； and little time was lost putting it
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
into operation。
All the remainder of that day not a sign of life was visible about the
Wonder。 She lay inert on the surface of the lagoon； not far away from the
Advance； but； though no one showed himself on the deck； Tom and his
friends had no doubt but that their enemies were closely watching them。
As dusk settled down over The tropical sea； and as the shadows of the
trees on the little island lengthened； those on board the Advance closed the
Conning tower。 No lights were turned on； as they did not want their
movements to be seen； but Tom； his father and Mr。 Sharp took their
positions near the various machines and apparatus； ready to open the tanks
and let the submarine sink to the bottom； as soon as it was possible to do
this unobserved。
〃Luckily there's no moon；〃 remarked Captain Weston； as he took his
place beside Tom。 〃Once below the surface and we can defy them to find
us。 It is odd how they traced us； but I suppose that steamer gave them the
clue。〃
It rapidly grew dark； as it always does in the tropics； and when a
cautious observation from the conning tower did not disclose the outlines
of the other boat； those aboard the Advance rightly concluded that their
rivals were unable to see them。
〃Send her down； Tom；〃 called his father； and with a hiss the water
entered the tanks。 The submarine quickly sank below the surface； aided by
the deflecting rudder。
But alas for the hopes of the gold…seekers。 No sooner was she
completely submerged； with the engine started so as to send her out of the
lagoon and to the open sea； than the waters all about were made brilliant
by the phosphorescent phenomenon。 In southern waters this frequently
occurs。 Millions of tiny creatures； which； it is said； swarm in the warm
currents； give an appearance of fire to the ocean； and any object moving
through it can plainly be seen。 It was so with the Advance。 The motion she
made in shooting forward； and the undulations caused by her submersion；
seemed to start into activity the dormant phosphorus； and the submarine
was afloat in a sea of fire。
〃Quick！〃 cried Tom。 〃Speed her up！ Maybe we can get out of this
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
patch of water before they see us。〃
But it was too late。 Above them they could hear the electric siren of the
Wonder as it was blown to let them know that their escape had been
noticed。 A moment later the water； which acted as a sort of sounding…board；
or telephone； brought to the ears of Tom Swift and his friends the noise of
the engines of the other craft in operation。 She was coming after them。 The
race for the possession of three hundred thousand dollars in gold was
already under way。 Fate seemed against those on board the Advance。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Seventeen
The Race
Directed by Captain Weston； who glanced at the compass and told
him which way to steer to clear the outer coral reef； Tom sent the
submarine ahead； signaling for full speed to the engine…room； where his
father and Mr。 Sharp were。 The big dynamos purred like great cats； as they
sent the electrical energy into the forward and aft plates； pulling and
pushing the Advance forward。 On and on she rushed under water； but ever
as she shot ahead the disturbance in the phosphorescent water showed her
position plainly。 She would be easy to follow。
〃Can't you get any more speed out of her？〃 asked the captain of the
lad。
〃Yes；〃 was the quick reply； 〃by using the auxiliary screws I think we
can。 I'll try it。〃
He signaled for the propellers； forward and aft； to be put in operation；
and the motor moving the twin screws was turned on。 At once there was a
perceptible increase to the speed of the Advance。
〃Are we leaving them behind？〃 asked Tom anxiously； as he glanced at
the speed gage； and noted that the submarine was now about five hundred
feet below the surface。
〃Hard to tell；〃 replied the Captain。 〃You'd have to take an observation
to make sure。〃
〃I'll do it；〃 cried the youth。 〃You steer； please； and I'll go in the
conning tower。 I can look forward and aft there； as well as straight up。
Maybe I can see the Wonder。〃
Springing up the circular ladder leading into the tower； Tom glanced
through the windows all about the small pilot house。 He saw a curious
sight。 It was as if the submarine was in a sea of yellowish liquid fire。 She
was immersed in water which glowed with the flames that contained no
heat。 So light was it； in fact； that there was no need of the incandescents in
the tower。 The young inventor could have seen to read a paper by the
illumination of the phosphorus。 But he had something else to do than
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
observe this phenomenon。 He wanted to see if he could catch sight of the
rival submarine。
At first he could make out nothing save the swirl and boiling of the sea；
caused by the progress of the Advance through it。 But suddenly； as he
looked up； he was aware of some great； black body a little to the rear and
about ten feet above his craft。
〃A shark！〃 he exclaimed aloud。 〃An immense one； too。〃
But the closer he looked the less it seemed like a shark。 The position of
the black object changed。 It appeared to settle down
