tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第30节
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looking for a needle in a haystack； almost； to and the sunken ship in that
depth of water。
〃Well； we'll try again；〃 said Mr。 Swift； as they sank once more beneath
the surface。
It was toward evening； on the second day after this； that Tom； who was
on duty in the conning tower； saw a black shape looming up in front of the
submarine； the searchlight revealing it to him far enough away so that he
could steer to avoid it。 He thought at first that it was a great rock； for they
were moving along near the bottom； but the peculiar shape of it soon
convinced him that this could not be。 It came more plainly into view as the
submarine approached it more slowly； then suddenly； out of the depths in
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
the illumination from the searchlight； the young inventor saw the steel
sides of a steamer。 His heart gave a great thump； but he would not call out
yet； fearing that it might be some other vessel than the one containing the
treasure。
He steered the Advance so as to circle it。 As he swept past the bows he
saw in big letters near the sharp prow the word； Boldero。
〃The wreck！ The wreck！〃 he cried； his voice ringing through the craft
from end to end。 〃We've found the wreck at last！〃
〃Are you sure？〃 cried his father； hurrying to his son； Captain Weston
following。
〃Positive；〃 answered the lad。 The submarine was slowing up now； and
Tom sent her around on the other side。 They had a good view of the
sunken ship。 It seemed to be intact； no gaping holes in her sides； for only
her plates had started； allowing her to sink gradually。
〃At last；〃 murmured Mr。 Swift。 〃Can it be possible we are about to get
the treasure？〃
〃That's the Boldero； all right；〃 affirmed Captain Weston。 〃I recognize
her； even if the name wasn't on her bow。 Go right down on the bottom；
Tom； and we'll get out the diving suits and make an examination。〃
The submarine settled to the ocean bed。 Tom glanced at the depth gage。
It showed over two miles and a half。 Would they be able to venture out
into water of such enormous pressure in the comparatively frail diving
suits； and wrest the gold from the wreck？ It was a serious question。
The Advance came to a stop。 In front of her loomed the great bulk of
the Boldero； vague and shadowy in the flickering gleam of the searchlight
As the gold…seekers looked at her through the bull's…eyes of the conning
tower； several great forms emerged from beneath the wreck's bows。
〃Deep…water sharks！〃 exclaimed Captain Weston； 〃and monsters； too。
But they can't bother us。 Now to get out the gold！〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Twenty…Three
Attacked by Sharks
For a few minutes after reaching the wreck； which had so occupied
their thoughts for the past weeks； the adventurers did nothing but gaze at it
from the ports of the submarine。 The appearance of the deep…water sharks
gave them no concern； for they did not imagine the ugly creatures would
attack them。 The treasure…seekers were more engrossed with the problem
of getting out the gold。
〃How are we going to get at it？〃 asked Tom； as he looked at the high
sides of the sunken ship； which towered well above the comparatively
small Advance。
〃Why； just go in and get it；〃 suggested Mr。 Damon。 〃Where is gold in a
cargo usually kept； Captain Weston？ You ought to know； I should think。
Bless my pocketbook！〃
〃Well； I should say that in this case the bullion would be kept in a safe
in the captain's cabin；〃 replied the sailor。 〃Or； if not there； in some after
part of the vessel； away from where the crew is quartered。 But it is going
to be quite a problem to get at it。 We can't climb the sides of the wreck；
and it will be impossible to lower her ladder over the side。 However； I
think we had better get into the diving suits and take a closer look。 We can
walk around her。〃
〃That's my idea；〃 put in Mr。 Sharp。 〃But who will go； and who will
stay with the ship？〃
〃I think Tom and Captain Weston had better go； suggested Mr。 Swift。
〃Then； in case anything happens； Mr。 Sharp； you and I will be on board to
manage matters。〃
〃You don't think anything will happen； do you； dad？〃 asked his son
with a laugh； but it was not an easy one； for the lad was thinking of the
shadowy forms of the ugly sharks。
〃Oh； no； but it's best to be prepared；〃 answered his father。
The captain and the young inventor lost no time in donning the diving
suits。 They each took a heavy metal bar； pointed at one end； to use in
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
assisting them to walk on the bed of the ocean； and as a protection in case
the sharks might attack them。 Entering the diving chamber； they were shut
in； and then water was admitted until the pressure was seen； by gages； to
be the same as that outside the submarine。 Then the sliding steel door was
opened。 At first Tom and the captain could barely move； so great was the
pressure of water on their bodies。 They would have been crushed but for
the protection afforded by the strong diving suits。
In a few minutes they became used to it； and stepped out on the floor
of the ocean。 They could not； of course； speak to each other； but Tom
looked through the glass eyes of his helmet at the captain； and the latter
motioned for the lad to follow。 The two divers could breathe perfectly； and
by means of small； but powerful lights on the helmets； the way was lighted
for them as they advanced。
Slowly they approached the wreck； and began a circuit of her。 They
could see several places where the pressure of the water； and the strain of
the storm in which she had foundered； had 'opened the plates of the ship；
but in no case were the openings large enough to admit a person。 Captain
Weston put his steel bar in one crack； and tried to pry it farther open； but
his strength was not equal to the task。 He made some peculiar motions； but
Tom could not understand them。
They looked for some means by which they could mount to the decks
of the Boldero； but none was visible。 It was like trying to scale a fifty…foot
smooth steel wall。 There was no place for a foothold。 Again the sailor
made some peculiar motions； and the lad puzzled over them。 They had
gone nearly around the wreck now； and as yet had seen no way in which to
get at the gold。 As they passed around the bow； which was in a deep
shadow from a great rock； they caught sight of the submarine lying a short
distance away。 Light streamed from many hull's…eyes； and Tom felt a sense
of security as he looked at her； for it was lonesome enough in that great
depth of water； unable to speak to his companion； who was a few feet in
advance。
Suddenly there was a swirling of the water； and Tom was nearly
thrown off his feet by the rush of some great body。 A long； black shadow
passed over his head； and an instant later he saw the form of a great shark
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
launched at Captain Weston。 The lad involuntarily cried in alarm； but the
result was surprising。 He was nearly deafened by his own voice； confined
as the sound was in the helmet he wore。 But the sailor； too； had felt the
movement of the water； and turned just in time。 He thrust upward with his
pointed bar。 But he missed the stroke； and Tom； a moment later； saw the
great fish turn over so that its mouth； which is far underneath its snout；
could take in the queer shape which the shark evidently thought was a
choice morsel。 The big fish did actually get the helmet of Captain Weston
inside its jaws； but probably it would have found it impossible to crush the
strong steel。 Still it might have sprung the joints； and water would have
entered； which would have been as fatal as though the sailor had been
swallowed by the shark。 Tom realized this and； moving as fast as he could
through the water； he came up behind th
