tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第24节
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over water。 〃Let's go below and skip out while we have a chance。 They
can't follow now； and we can get to the sunken treasure ahead of them。〃
〃Good advice；〃 commented his father。 〃Come； Captain Weston； we'll
go below and close the conning tower。〃
Five minutes later the Advance sank from sight； the last glimpse Tom
had of Berg and his men being a sight of them standing on the deck of
their floating boat； gazing in the direction of their successful rival。 The
Wonder was left behind； while Tom and his friends were soon once more
speeding toward the treasure wreck。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Nineteen
Captured
〃Down deep；〃 advised Captain Weston； as he stood beside Tom and
Mr。 Swift in the pilot house。 〃As far as you can manage her； and then
forward。 We'll take no more chances with these fellows。〃
〃The only trouble is；〃 replied the young inventor； 〃that the deeper we
go the slower we have to travel。 The water is so dense that it holds us
back。〃
〃Well； there is no special need of hurrying now；〃 went on the sailor。
〃No one is following you； and two or three days difference in reaching the
wreck will not amount to anything。〃
〃Unless they repair their rudder； and take after us again；〃 suggested Mr。
Swift。
〃They're not very likely to do that；〃 was the captain's opinion。 〃It was
more by luck than good management that they picked us up before。 Now；
having to delay； as they will； to repair their steering gear； while we can go
as deep as we please and speed ahead； it is practically impossible for them
to catch up to us。 No； I think we have nothing to fear from them。〃
But though danger from Berg and his crowd was somewhat remote；
perils of another sort were hovering around the treasure…seekers； and they
were soon to experience them。
It was much different from sailing along in the airship； Tom thought；
for there was no blue sky and fleecy clouds to see； and they could not look
down and observe； far below them； cities and villages。 Nor could they
breathe the bracing atmosphere of the upper regions。
But if there was lack of the rarefied air of the clouds； there was no lack
of fresh atmosphere。 The big tanks carried a large supply； and whenever
more was needed the oxygen machine would supply it。
As there was no need； however； of remaining under water for any great
stretch of time； it was their practice to rise every day and renew the air
supply； also to float along on the surface for a while； or speed along； with
only the conning tower out； in order to afford a view； and to enable
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
Captain Weston to take observations。 But care was always exercised to
make sure no ships were in sight when emerging on the surface； for the
gold…seekers did not want to be hailed and questioned by inquisitive
persons。
It was about four days after the disabling of the rival submarine； and
the Advance was speeding along about a mile and a half under water。 Tom
was in the pilot house with Captain Weston； Mr。 Damon was at his favorite
pastime of looking out of the glass side windows into the ocean and its
wonders； and Mr。 Swift and the balloonists were； as usual； in the engine…
room。
〃How near do you calculate we are to the sunken wreck？〃 asked Tom
of his companion。
〃Well； at the calculation we made yesterday； we are within about a
thousand miles of it now。 We ought to reach it in about four more days； if
we don't have any accidents。〃
〃And how deep do you think it is？〃 went on the lad。
〃Well； I'm afraid it's pretty close to two miles； if not more。 It's quite a
depth； and of course impossible for ordinary divers to reach。 But it will be
possible in this submarine and in the strong diving suits your father has
invented for us to get to it。 Yes； I don't anticipate much trouble in getting
out the gold； once we reach the wreck of course〃
The captain's remark was not finished。 From the engine… room there
came a startled shout：
〃Tom！ Tom！ Your father is hurt！ Come here； quick！〃
〃Take the wheel！〃 cried the lad to the captain。 〃I must go to my father。〃
It was Mr。 Sharp's voice he had heard。
Racing to the engine…room； Tom saw his parent doubled up over a
dynamo； while to one side； his hand on a copper switch； stood Mr。 Sharp。
〃What's the matter？〃 shouted the lad。
〃He's held there by a current of electricity；〃 replied the balloonist。 〃The
wires are crossed。〃
〃Why don't you shut off the current？〃 demanded the youth； as he
prepared to pull his parent from the whirring machine。 Then he hesitated；
for he feared he； too； would be glued fast by the terrible current； and so be
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unable to help Mr。 Swift。
〃I'm held fast here； too；〃 replied the balloonist。 〃I started to cut out the
current at this switch； but there's a short circuit somewhere； and I can't let
go； either。 Quick； shut off all power at the main switchboard forward。〃
Tom realized that this was the only thing to do。 He ran forward and
with a yank cut out all the electric wires。 With a sigh of relief Mr。 Sharp
pulled his hands from the copper where he had been held fast as if by
some powerful magnet； his muscles cramped by the current。 Fortunately
the electricity was of low voltage； and he was not burned。 The body of Mr。
Swift toppled backward from the dynamo； as Tom sprang to reach his
father。
〃He's dead！〃 he cried； as he saw the pale face and the closed eyes。
〃No； only badly shocked； I hope；〃 spoke Mr。 Sharp。 〃But we must get
him to the fresh air at once。 Start the tank pumps。 We'll rise to the surface。〃
The youth needed no second bidding。 Once more turning on the
electric current； he set the powerful pumps in motion and the submarine
began to rise。 Then； aided by Captain Weston and Mr。 Damon； the young
inventor carried his father to a couch in the main cabin。 Mr。 Sharp took
charge of the machinery。
Restoratives were applied； and there was a flutter of the eyelids of the
aged inventor。
〃I think he'll come around all right；〃 said the sailor kindly； as he saw
Tom's grief。 〃Fresh air will be the thing for him。 We'll be on the surface in
a minute。〃
Up shot the Advance； while Mr。 Sharp stood ready to open the conning
tower as soon as it should be out of water。 Mr。 Swift seemed to be rapidly
reviving。 With a bound the submarine； forced upward from the great depth；
fairly shot out of the water。 There was a clanking sound as the aeronaut
opened the airtight door of the tower； and a breath of fresh air came in。
〃Can you walk； dad； or shall we carry you？〃 asked Tom solitiously。
〃Oh； II'm feeling better now；〃 was the inventor's reply。 〃I'll soon be
all right when I get out on deck。 My foot slipped as I was adjusting a wire
that had gotten out of order； and I fell so that I received a large part of the
current。 I'm glad I was not burned。 Was Mr。 Sharp hurt？ I saw him run to
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the switch； just before I lost consciousness。〃
〃No； I'm all right；〃 answered the balloonist。 〃But allow us to get you
out to the fresh air。 You'll feel much better then。〃
Mr。 Swift managed to walk slowly to the ladder leading to the conning
tower； and thence to the deck。 The others followed him。 As all emerged
from the submarine they uttered a cry of astonishment。
There； not one hundred yards away； was a great warship； flying a flag
which； in a moment。 Tom recognized as that of Brazil。 The cruiser was
lying off a small island； and all about were small boats； filled with natives；
who seemed to be bringing supplies from land to the ship。 At the
unexpected sight of the submarine； bobbing up from the bottom of the
ocean； the nativ
