tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第26节
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will these scoundrels〃
〃Silenceo！〃 cried Lieutenant Drascalo quickly。 〃Dogs of Americans；
do you wish to insult us？〃
〃Impossible； you wouldn't appreciate a good； genuine United States
insult；〃 murmured Tom under his breath。
〃What I mean；〃 went on the captain； 〃is that these people may carry
the proceedings off with a high hand。 You heard the admiral speak of a
court…martial。〃
〃Would they dare do that？〃 inquired Mr。 Sharp。
〃They would dare anything in this part of the world； I'm afraid；〃
resumed Captain Weston。 〃I think I see their plan； though。 This admiral is
newly in command； his uniform shows that He wants to make a name for
himself； and he seizes on our submarine as an excuse。 He can send word to
his government that he destroyed a torpedo craft that sought to wreck his
ship。 Thus he will acquire a reputation。〃 〃But would his government
support him in such a hostile act against the United States； a friendly
nation？〃 asked Tom。
〃Oh； he would not claim to have acted against the United States as a
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
power。 He would say that it was a private submarine； and； as a matter of
fact； it is。 While we are under the protection of the stars and stripes； our
vessel is not a Government one；〃 and Captain Weston spoke the last in a
low voice； so the scowling lieutenant could not hear。
〃What will they do with us？〃 inquired Mr。 Swift。
〃Have some sort of a court…martial； perhaps；〃 went on the captain；
〃and confiscate our craft Then they will send us back home； I expect for
they would not dare harm us。〃
〃But take our submarine！〃 cried Tom。 〃The villains〃
〃Silenceo！〃 shouted Lieutenant Drascalo and he drew his sword。
By this time the small boat was under the big guns of the San Paulo；
and the prisoners were ordered； in broken English； to mount a companion
ladder that hung over the side。 In a short time they were on deck； amid a
crowd of sailors； and they could see the boat going back to bring off the
admiral； who signaled from the submarine。 Tom and his friends were taken
below to a room that looked like a prison； and there； a little later； they
were visited by Admiral Fanchetti and several officers。
〃You will be tried at once；〃 said the admiral。 〃I have examined your
submarine and I find she carries two torpedo tubes。 It is a wonder you did
not sink me at once。〃
〃Those are not torpedo tubes！〃 cried Tom； unable to keep silent；
though Captain Weston motioned him to do so。
〃I know torpedo tubes when I see them；〃 declared the admiral。 〃I
consider I had a very narrow escape。 Your country is fortunate that mine
does not declare war against it for this act。 But I take it you are acting
privately； for you fly no flag； though you claim to be from the United
States。〃
〃There's no place for a flag on the submarine；〃 went on Tom。 〃What
good would it be under water？〃
〃Silenceo！〃 cried Lieutenant Drascalo； the admonition to silence
seeming to be the only command of which he was capable。
〃I shall confiscate your craft for my government；〃 went on the admiral；
〃and shall punish you as the court…martial may direct。 You will be tried at
once。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
It was in vain for the prisoners to protest。 Matters were carried with a
high hand。 They were allowed a spokesman； and Captain Weston； who
understood Spanish； was selected； that language being used。 But the
defense was a farce； for he was scarcely listened to。 Several officers
testified before the admiral； who was judge； that they had seen the
submarine rise out of the water； almost under the prow of the San Paulo。 It
was assumed that the Advance had tried to wreck the warship； but had
failed。 It was in vain that Captain Weston and the others told of the reason
for their rapid ascent from the ocean depthsthat Mr。 Swift had been
shocked； and needed fresh air。 Their story was not believed。
〃We have heard enough！〃 suddenly exclaimed the admiral。 〃The
evidence against you is over…whelmingerwhat you Americans call
conclusive；〃 and be was speaking then in broken English。 〃I find you
guilty； and the sentence of this court…martial is that you be shot at sunrise；
three days hence！〃
〃Shot！〃 cried Captain Weston； staggering back at this unexpected
sentence。 His companions turned white； and Mr。 Swift leaned against his
son for support。
〃Bless my stars！ Of all the scoundrelly！〃 began Mr。 Damon。
〃Silenceo！〃 shouted the lieutenant； waving his sword。
〃You will be shot；〃 proceeded the admiral。 〃Is not that the verdict of
the honorable court？〃 he asked； looking at his fellow officers。 They all
nodded gravely。
〃But look here！〃 objected Captain Weston。 〃You don't dare do that！ We
are citizens of the United States； and〃
〃I consider you no better than pirates；〃 interrupted the admiral。 〃You
have an armed submarinea submarine with torpedo tubes。 You invade
our harbor with it； and come up almost under my ship。 You have forfeited
your right to the protection of your country； and I have no fear on that
score。 You will be shot within three days。 That is all。 Remove the
prisoners。〃
Protests were in vain； and it was equally useless to struggle。 The
prisoners were taken out on deck； for which they were thankful； for the
interior of the ship was close and hot； the weather being intensely
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
disagreeable。 They were told to keep within a certain space on deck； and a
guard of sailors； all armed； was placed near them。 From where they were
they could see their submarine floating on the surface of the little bay； with
several Brazilians on the small deck。 The Advance had been anchored； and
was surrounded by a flotilla of the native boats； the brown…skinned
paddlers gazing curiously at the odd craft。
〃Well； this is tough luck！〃 murmured Tom。 〃How do you feel； dad？〃
〃As well as can be expected under the circumstances；〃 was the reply。
〃What do you think about this； Captain Weston？〃
〃Not very much； if I may be allowed the expression；〃 was the answer。
〃Do you think they will dare carry out that threat？〃 asked Mr。 Sharp。
The captain shrugged his shoulders。 〃I hope it is only a bluff；〃 he
replied； 〃made to scare us so we will consent to giving up the submarine；
which they have no right to confiscate。 But these fellows look ugly enough
for anything；〃 he went on。
〃Then if there's any chance of them attempting to carry it out；〃 spoke
Tom； 〃we've got to do something。〃
〃Bless my gizzard； of course！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Damon。 〃But what？
That's the question。 To be shot！ Why； that's a terrible threat！ The villains〃
〃Silenceo！〃 shouted Lieutenant Drascalo； coming up at that moment。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Twenty…One
The Escape
Events had happened so quickly that day that the gold… hunters could
scarcely comprehend them。 It seemed only a short time since Mr。 Swift
had been discovered lying disabled on the dynamo； and what had
transpired since seemed to have taken place in a few minutes； though it
was； in reality； several hours。 This was made manifest by the feeling of
hunger on the part of Tom and his friends。
〃I wonder if they're going to starve us； the scoundrels？〃 asked Mr。
Sharp； when the irate lieutenant was beyond hearing。 〃It's not fair to make
us go hungry and shoot us in the bargain。〃
〃That's so； they ought to
