tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第8节
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〃YesII guess so；〃 was the hesitating answer。 〃Yes；〃 the lad added；
as the fresh air cleared his head。 〃I'll be all right pretty soon。 Have you
seen Andy Foger？〃
〃Did he shut you in there？〃 demanded Mr。 Swift。
Tom nodded。
〃I'll have him arrested！〃 declared Mr。 Swift 〃I'll go to town as soon as
you're in good shape again and notify the police。〃
〃No； don't；〃 pleaded Tom。 〃I'll take care of Andy myself。 I don't really
believe he knew how serious it was。 I'll settle with him later； though。〃
〃Well； it came mighty near being serious；〃 remarked Mr。 Sharp grimly。
〃Your father and I came back a little sooner than we expected； and as soon
as I got near the house I heard your signal。 I knew what it was in a
moment。 There were Mrs。 Baggert and Garret talking away； and when I
asked them why they didn't answer your call they said they thought you
were merely tinkering with the machinery。 But I knew better。 It's the first
time we ever had a use for 'forty… seven；' Tom。〃
〃And I hope it will be the last；〃 replied the young inventor with a faint
smile。 〃But I'd like to know what Andy Foger is doing in this
neighborhood。〃
Tom was soon himself again and able to go to the house； where he
found Mrs。 Baggert brewing a big basin of catnip tea； under the
impression that it would in some way be good for his。 She could not
forgive herself for not having answered his signal； and as for Mr。 Jackson；
he had started for a doctor as soon as he learned that Tom was shut up in
the tank。 The services of the medical man were canceled by telephone； as
there was no need for him； and the engineer came back to the house。
Tom was fully himself the next day； and aided his father and Mr。 Sharp
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
in putting the finishing touches to the Advance。 It was found that some
alteration was required in the auxiliary propellers； and this； much to the
regret of the young inventor； would necessitate postponing the trial a few
days。
〃But we'll have her in the water next Friday。〃 promised Mr。 Swift。
〃Aren't you superstitious about Friday？〃 asked the balloonist。
〃Not a bit of it；〃 replied the aged inventor。 〃Tom；〃 he added； 〃I wish
you would go in the house and get me the roll of blueprints you'll find on
my desk。〃
As the lad neared the cottage he saw； standing in front of the place； a
small automobile。 A man had just descended from it； and it needed but a
glance to show that he was Mr。 Addison Berg。
〃Ah； good morning； Mr。 Swift；〃 greeted Mr。 Berg。 〃I wish to see your
father； but as I don't wish to lay myself open to suspicions by entering the
shop； perhaps you will ask him to step here。〃
〃Certainly；〃 answered the lad； wondering why the agent had returned。
Getting the blueprints； and asking Mr。 Berg to sit down on the porch； Tom
delivered the message。
〃You come back with me； Tom；〃 said his father。 〃I want you to be a
witness to what he says。 I'm not going to get into trouble with these
people。〃
Mr。 Berg came to the point at once。
〃Mr。 Swift；〃 he said； 〃I wish you would reconsider your determination
not to enter the Government trials。 I'd like to see you compete。 So would
my firm。〃
〃There is no use going over that again；〃 replied the aged inventor。 〃I
have another object in view now than trying for the Government prize。
What it is I can't say； but it may develop in timeif we are successful；〃 and
he looked at his son； smiling the while。
Mr。 Berg tried to argue； but it was of no avail Then he changed his
manner； and said：
〃Well； since you won't； you won't； I suppose。 I'll go back and report to
my firm。 Have you anything special to do this morning？〃 he went on to
Tom。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
〃Well； I can always find something to keep me busy；〃 replied the lad；
〃but as for anything special〃
〃I thought perhaps you'd like to go for a trip in my auto；〃 interrupted
Mr。 Berg。 〃I had asked a young man who is stopping at the same hotel
where I am to accompany me； but he has unexpectedly left； and I don't
like to go alone。 His name waslet me see。 I have a wretched memory for
names； but it was something like Roger or Moger。〃
〃Foger！〃 cried Tom。 〃Was it Andy Foger？〃
〃Yes； that was it。 Why； do you know him？〃 asked Mr。 Berg in some
surprise。
〃I should say so；〃 replied Tom。 〃He was the cause of what might have
resulted in something serious for me；〃 and the lad explained about being
imprisoned in the tank。
〃You don't tell me！〃 cried Mr。 Berg。 〃I had no idea he was that kind of
a lad。 You see； his father is one of the directors of the firm by whom I am
employed。 Andy came from home to spend a few weeks at the seaside； and
stopped at the same hotel that I did。 He went off yesterday afternoon； and I
haven't seen him since； though he promised to go for a ride with me。 He
must have come over here and entered your shop unobserved。 I remember
now he asked me where the submarine was being built that was going to
compete with our firm's； and I told him。 I didn't think he was that kind of a
lad。 Well； since he's probably gone back home； perhaps you will come for
a ride with me； Tom。〃
〃I'm afraid I can't go； thank you；〃 answered the lad。 〃We are very busy
getting our submarine in shape for a trial。 But I can imagine why Andy left
so hurriedly。 He probably learned that a doctor had been summoned for
me； though； as it happened； I didn't need one。 But Andy probably got
frightened at what he had done； and left。 I'll make him more sorry； when I
meet him。〃
〃Don't blame you a bit；〃 commented Mr。 Berg。 〃Well； I must be getting
back。〃
He hastened out to his auto； while Tom and his father watched the
agent。
〃Tom； never trust that man；〃 advised the aged inventor solemnly。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
〃Just what I was about to remark；〃 said his son。 〃Well； let's get back to
work。 Queer that he should come here again； and it's queer about Andy
Foger。〃
Father and son returned to the machine shop； while Mr。 Berg puffed
away in his auto。 A little later； Tom having occasion to go to a building
near the boundary line of the cottage property which his father had hired
for the season； saw； through the hedge that bordered it； an automobile
standing in the road。 A second glance showed him that it was Mr。 Berg's
machine。 Something had gone wrong with it； and the agent had alighted to
make an adjustment。
The young inventor was close to the man； though the latter was
unaware of his presence。
〃Hang it all！〃 Tom heard Mr。 Berg exclaim to himself。 〃I wonder what
they can be up to？ They won't enter the Government contests； and they
won't say why。 I believe they're up to some game； and I've got to find out
what it is。 I wonder if I couldn't use this Foger chap？〃
〃He seems to have it in for this Tom Swift；〃 Mr。 Berg went on； still
talking to himself； though not so low but that Tom could hear him。 〃I think
I'll try it。 I'll get Andy Foger to sneak around and find out what the game is。
He'll do it； I know。〃
By this time the auto was in working order again； and the agent took
his seat and started off。
〃So that's how matters lie； eh？〃 thought Tom。 〃Well； Mr。 Berg； we'll be
doubly on the lookout for you after this。 As for Andy Foger； I think I'll
make him wish he'd never locked me in that tank。 So you expect to find
out our 'game；' eh； Mr。 Berg？ Well； when you do know it； I think it will
astonish you。 I only hope you don't learn what it is until we get at that
sunken treasure； though。〃
But alas for Tom's hopes。 Mr。 Berg did learn of the object of the
treasure…seekers； and sought to defeat them； as we shall learn as our story
proceeds。
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