tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第31节
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swallowed by the shark。 Tom realized this and； moving as fast as he could
through the water； he came up behind the monster and drove his steel bar
deep into it。
The sea was crimsoned with blood； and the savage creature； opening
its mouth； let go of the captain。 It turned on Tom； who again harpooned it。
Then the fish darted off and began a wild flurry； for it was dying。 The rush
of water nearly threw Tom off his feet； but he managed to make his way
over to his friend； and assist him to rise。 A confident look from the sailor
showed the lad that Captain Weston was uninjured； though he must have
been frightened。 As the two turned to make their way back to the
submarine； the waters about them seemed alive with the horrible monsters。
It needed but a glance to show what they were； Sharks！ Scores of them；
long； black ones； with their ugly； undershot mouths。 They had been
attracted by the blood of the one Tom had killed； but there was not a meal
for all of them off the dying creature； and the great fish might turn on the
young inventor and his companion。
The two shrank closer toward the wreck。 They might get under the
prow of that and be safe。 But even as they started to move； several of the
sea wolves darted quickly at them。 Tom glanced at the captain。 What could
they do？ Strong as were the diving suits； a combined attack by the sharks；
with their powerful jaws； would do untold damage。
At that moment there seemed some movement on board the submarine。
Tom could see his father looking from the conning tower； and the aged
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
inventor seemed to be making some motions。 Then Tom understood。 Mr。
Swift was directing his son and Captain Weston to crouch down。 The lad
did so； pulling the sailor after him。 Then Tom saw the bow electric gun run
out； and aimed at the mass of sharks； most of whom were congregated
about the dead one。 Into the midst of the monsters was fired a number of
small projectiles； which could be used in the electric cannon in place of
the solid shot。 Once more the waters were red with blood； and those sharks
which were not killed swirled off。 Tom and Captain Weston were saved。
They were soon inside the submarine again。 telling their thrilling story。
〃It's lucky you saw us； dad；〃 remarked the lad； blushing at the praise
Mr。 Damon bestowed on him for killing the monster which had attacked
the captain。
〃Oh； I was on the lookout；〃 said the inventor。 〃But what about getting
into the wreck？〃
〃I think the only way we can do it will be to ram a hole in her side；〃
said Captain Weston。 〃That was what I tried to tell Tom by motions； but he
didn't seem to understand me。〃
〃No；〃 replied the lad； who was still a little nervous from his recent
experience。 〃I thought you meant for us to turn it over； bottom side up；〃
and he laughed。
〃Bless my gizzard！ Just like a shark；〃 commented Mr。 Damon。
〃Please don't mention them；〃 begged Tom。 〃I hope we don't see any
more of them。〃
〃Oh； I fancy they have been driven far enough away from this
neighborhood now；〃 commented the captain。 〃But now about the wreck。
We may be able to approach it from above。 Suppose we try to lower the
submarine on it？ That will save ripping it open。〃
This was tried a little later； but would not work。 There were strong
currents sweeping over the top of the Boldero； caused by a submerged reef
near which she had settled。 It was a delicate task to sink the submarine on
her decks； and with the deep waters swirling about was found to be
impossible； even with the use of the electric plates and the auxiliary
screws。 Once more the Advance settled to the ocean bed； near the wreck。
〃Well； what's to be done？〃 asked Tom； as he looked at the high steel
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
sides。
〃Ram her； tear a hole； and then use dynamite；〃 decided Captain
Weston promptly。 〃You have some explosive； haven't you； Mr。 Swift？〃
〃Oh； yes。 I came prepared for emergencies。〃
〃Then we'll blow up the wreck and get at the gold。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Twenty…Four
Ramming the Wreck
Fitted with a long； sharp steel ram in front； the Advance was
peculiarly adapted for this sort of work。 In designing the ship this ram was
calculated to be used against hostile vessels in war time； for the submarine
was at first； as we know； destined for a Government boat。 Now the ram
was to serve a good turn。
To make sure that the attempt would be a success； the machinery of the
craft was carefully gone over。 It was found to be in perfect order； save for
a few adjustments which were needed。 Then； as it was night； though there
was no difference in the appearance of things below the surface； it was
decided to turn in； and begin work in the morning。 Nor did the gold…
seekers go to the surface； for they feared they might encounter a storm。
〃We had trouble enough locating the wreck； said Captain Weston； 〃and
if we go up we may be blown off our course。 We have air enough to stay
below； haven't we； Tom？〃
〃Plenty；〃 answered the lad； looking at the gages。
After a hearty breakfast the next morning； the submarine crew got
ready for their hard task。 The craft was backed away as far as was practical；
and then； running at full speed； she rammed the wreck。 The shock was
terrific； and at first it was feared some damage had been done to the
Advance； but she stood the strain。
〃Did we open up much of a hole？〃 anxiously asked Mr。 Swift。
〃Pretty good；〃 replied Tom； observing it through the conning tower
bull's…eyes； when the submarine had backed off again。 〃Let's give her
another。〃
Once more the great steel ram hit into the side of the Boldero； and
again the submarine shivered from the shock。 But there was a bigger hole
in the wreck now； and after Captain Weston had viewed it he decided it
was large enough to allow a person to enter and place a charge of
dynamite so that the treasure ship would be broken up。
Tom and the captain placed the explosive。 Then the Advance was
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
withdrawn to a safe distance。 There was a dull rumble； a great swirling of
the water； which was made murky； but when it cleared； and the submarine
went back； it was seen that the wreck was effectively broken up。 It was in
two parts； each one easy of access。
〃That's the stuff！〃 cried Tom。 〃Now to get at the gold！〃
〃Yes； get out the diving suits；〃 added Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless my watch…
charm； I think I'll chance it in one myself！ Do you think the sharks are all
gone； Captain Weston？〃
〃I think so。〃
In a short time Tom； the captain； Mr。 Sharp and Mr。 Damon were
attired in the diving suits； Mr。 Swift not caring to venture into such a great
depth of water。 Besides； it was necessary for at least one person to remain
in the submarine to operate the diving chamber。
Walking slowly along the bottom of the sea the four gold… seekers
approached the wreck。 They looked on all sides for a sight of the sharks；
but the monster fish seemed to have deserted that part of the ocean。 Tom
was the first to reach the now disrupted steamer。 He found he could easily
climb up； for boxes and barrels from the cargo holds were scattered all
about by the explosion。 Captain Weston soon joined the lad。 The sailor
motioned Tom to follow him； and being more familiar with ocean craft the
captain was permitted to take the lead。 He headed aft； seeking to locate the
captain's cabin。 Nor was he long in finding it。 He motioned for the others
to enter； that the combined illumination of the lamps in their helmets
would make the place bright
