tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第32节
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to enter； that the combined illumination of the lamps in their helmets
would make the place bright enough so a search could be made for the
gold。 Tom suddenly seized the arm of the captain； and pointed to one
corner of the cabin。 There stood a small safe； and at the sight of it Captain
Weston moved toward it。 The door was not locked； probably having been
left open when the ship was deserted。 Swinging it back the interior was
revealed。
It was empty。 There was no gold bullion in it。
There was no mistaking the dejected air of Captain Weston。 The others
shared his feelings； but though they all felt like voicing their
disappointment； not a word could be spoken。 Mr。 Sharp； by vigorous
motions； indicated to his companions to seek further。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
They did so； spending all the rest of the day in the wreck； save for a
short interval for dinner。 But no gold rewarded their search。
Tom； late that afternoon； wandered away from the others； and found
himself in the captain's cabin again； with the empty safe showing dimly in
the water that was all about。
〃Hang it all！〃 thought the lad； 〃we've had all our trouble for nothing！
They must have taken the gold with them。〃
Idly he raised his steel bar； and struck it against the partition back of
the safe。 To his astonishment the partition seemed to fall inward； revealing
a secret compartment。 The lad leaned forward to bring the light for his
helmet to play on the recess。 He saw a number of boxes； piled one upon
the other。 He had accidentally touched a hidden spring and opened a secret
receptacle。 But what did it contain？
Tom reached in and tried to lift one of the boxes。 He found it beyond
his strength。 Trembling from excitement； he went in search of the others。
He found them delving in the after part of the wreck； but by motions our
hero caused them to follow him。 Captain Weston showed the excitement
he felt as soon as he caught sight of the boxes。 He and Mr。 Sharp lifted one
out； and placed it on the cabin floor。 They pried off the top with their bars。
There； packed in layers； were small yellow bars； dull； gleaming；
yellow bars！ It needed but a glance to show that they were gold bullion。
Tom had found the treasure。 The lad tried to dance around there in the
cabin of the wreck； nearly three miles below the surface of the ocean； but
the pressure of water was too much for him。 Their trip had been
successful。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Twenty…Five
Home With the Gold
There was no time to be lost。 They were in a treacherous part of the
ocean； and strong currents might at any time further break up the wreck；
so that they could not come at the gold。 It was decided； by means of
motions； to at once transfer the treasure to the submarine。 As the boxes
were too heavy to carry easily； especially as two men； who were required
to lift one； could not walk together in the uncertain footing afforded by the
wreck； another plan was adopted。 The boxes were opened and the bars； a
few at a time； were dropped on a firm； sandy place at the side of the wreck。
Tom and Captain Weston did this work； while Mr。 Sharp and Mr。 Damon
carried the bullion to the diving chamber of the Advance。 They put the
yellow bars inside； and when quite a number had been thus shifted； Mr。
Swift； closing the chamber； pumped the water out and removed the gold。
Then he opened the chamber to the divers again； and the process was
repeated； until all the bullion had been secured。
Tom would have been glad to make a further examination of the wreck；
for he thought he could get some of the rifles the ship carried； but Captain
Weston signed to him not to attempt this。
The lad went to the pilot house； while his father and Mr。 Sharp took
their places in the engine…room。 The gold had been safely stowed in Mr。
Swift's cabin。
Tom took a last look at the wreck before he gave the starting signal。 As
he gazed at the bent and twisted mass of steel that had once been a great
ship； he saw something long； black and shadowy moving around from the
other side； coming across the bows。
〃There's another big shark；〃 he observed to Captain Weston。 〃They're
coming back after us。〃
The captain did not speak。 He was staring at the dark form。 Suddenly；
from what seemed the pointed nose of it； there gleamed a light； as from
some great eye。
〃Look at that！〃 cried Tom。 〃That's no shark！〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
〃If you want my opinion；〃 remarked the sailor； 〃I should say it was the
other submarinethat of Berg and his friendsthe Wonder。 They've
managed to fix up their craft and are after the gold。〃
〃But they're too late！〃 cried Tom excitedly。 〃Let's tell them so。〃
〃No； advised the captain。 〃We don't want any trouble with them。〃
Mr。 Swift came forward to see why his son had not given the signal to
start。 He was shown the other submarine； for now that the Wonder had
turned on several searchlights； there was no doubt as to the identity of the
craft。
〃Let's get away unobserved if we can；〃 he suggested。 〃We have had
trouble enough。〃
It was easy to do this； as the Advance was hidden behind the wreck；
and her lights were glowing but dimly。 Then； too； those in the other
submarine were so excited over the finding of what they supposed was the
wreck containing the treasure； that they paid little attention to anything
else。
〃I wonder how they'll feel when they find the gold gone？〃 asked Tom
as he pulled the lever starting the pumps。
〃Well； we may have a chance to learn； when we get back to
civilization；〃 remarked the captain。
The surface was soon reached； and then； under fair skies； and on a
calm sea； the voyage home was begun。 Part of the time the Advance sailed
on the top； and part of the time submerged。
They met with but a single accident； and that was when the forward
electrical plate broke。 But with the aft one still in commission； and the
auxiliary screws； they made good time。 Just before reaching home they
settled down to the bottom and donned the diving suits again； even Mr。
Swift taking his turn。 Mr。 Damon caught some large lobsters； of which he
was very fond； or； rather； to be more correct； the lobsters caught him。
When he entered the diving chamber there were four fine ones clinging to
different parts of his diving suit。 Some of them were served for dinner。
The adventurers safely reached the New Jersey coast； and the
submarine was docked。 Mr。 Swift at once communicated with the proper
authorities concerning the recovery of the gold。 He offered to divide with
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
the actual owners； after he and his friends had been paid for their services；
but as the revolutionary party to whom the bullion was intended had gone
out of existence； there was no one to officially claim the treasure； so it all
went to Tom and his friends； who made an equitable distribution of it。 The
young inventor did not forget to buy Mrs。 Baggert a fine diamond ring； as
he had promised。
As for Berg and his employers； they were； it was learned later； greatly
chagrined at finding the wreck valueless。 They tried to make trouble for
Tom and his father； but were not successful。
A few days after arriving at the seacoast cottage； Tom； his father and
Mr。 Damon went to Shopton in the airship。 Captain Weston； Garret
Jackson and Mn Sharp remained behind in charge of the submarine。 It was
decided that the Swifts would keep the craft and not sell it to the
Government； as Tom said they might want to go after more treasure som
