tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第9节
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Six
Turning the Tables
When the young inventor informed his father what he had overheard
Mr。 Berg saying； the aged inventor was not as much worried as his son
anticipated。
〃All we'll have to do； Tom；〃 he said； 〃is to keep quiet about where we
are going。 Once we have the Advance afloat； and try her out； we can start
on our voyage for the South American Coast and search for the sunken
treasure。 When we begin our voyage under water I defy any one to tell
where we are going； or what our plans are。 No； I don't believe we need
worry about Mr。 Berg； though he probably means mischief。〃
〃Well； I'm going to keep my eyes open for him and Andy Foger；〃
declared Tom。
The days that followed were filled with work。 Not only were there
many unexpected things to do about the submarine； but Mr。 Sharp was
kept busy making inquiries about the sunken treasure ship。 These inquiries
had to he made carefully； as the adventurers did not want their plans talked
of； and nothing circulates more quickly than rumors of an expedition after
treasure of any kind。
〃What about the old sea captain you were going to get to go with us？〃
asked Mr。 Swift of the balloonist one afternoon。 〃Have you succeeded in
finding one yet？〃
〃Yes； I am in communication with a man think will be just the person
for us。 His name is Captain Alden Weston； and he has sailed all over the
world。 He has also taken part in more than one revolution； and； in fact； is a
soldier of fortune。 I do not know him personally； but a friend of mine
knows him； and says he will serve us faithfully。 I have written to him； and
he will he here in a few days。〃
〃That's good。 Now about the location of the wreck itself。 Have you
been able to learn any more details？〃
〃Well； not many。 You see； the Boldero was abandoned in a storm； and
the captain did not take very careful observations。 As nearly as it can be
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
figured out the treasure ship went to the bottom in latitude forty…five
degrees south； and longitude twenty…seven east from Washington。 That's a
pretty indefinite location； but I hope； once we get off the Uruguay coast；
we can better it。 We can anchor or lay outside the harbor； and in the small
boat we carry go ashore and possibly gain more details。 For it was at
Montevideo that the shipwrecked passengers and sailors landed。〃
〃Does Captain Weston know our object？〃 inquired Tom。
〃No； and I don't propose to tell him until we are ready to start；〃 replied
Mr。 Sharp。 〃I don't know just how he'll consider a submarine trip after
treasure； but if I spring it on him suddenly he's less likely to back out。 Oh；
I think he'll go。〃
Somewhat unexpectedly the next day it was discovered that certain
tools and appliances were needed for the submarine； and they had been
left in the house at Shopton； where Eradicate Sampson was in charge as
caretaker during the absence of Mr。 Swift and his son and the housekeeper。
〃Well； I suppose we'll have to go back after them；〃 remarked Tom。
〃We'll take the airship； dad； and make a two… days' trip of it。 Is there
anything else you want？〃
〃Well； you might bring a bundle of papers you'll find in the lower right
hand drawer of my desk。 They contain some memoranda I need。〃
Tom and Mr。 Sharp had become so used to traveling in the airship that
it seemed no novelty to them； though they attracted much attention
wherever they went。 They soon had the Red Cloud in readiness for a flight；
and rising in the air above the shop that contained the powerful submarine；
a craft utterly different in type from the aeroplane； the nose of the airship
was pointed toward Shopton。
They made a good flight and landed near the big shed where the bird
of the air was kept。 It was early evening when they got to the Swift
homestead； and Eradicate Sampson was glad to see them。
Eradicate was a good cook； and soon had a meal ready for the travelers。
Then； while Mr。 Sharp selected the tools and other things needed； and put
them in the airship ready for the start back the next morning； Tom
concluded he would take a stroll into Shopton； to see if he could see his
friend； Ned Newton。 It was early evening； and the close of a beautiful day；
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
a sharp shower in the morning having cooled the air。
Tom was greeted by a number of acquaintances as he strolled along；
for； since the episode of the bank robbery； when he had so unexpectedly
returned with the thieves and the cash； the lad was better known than ever。
〃I guess Ned must be home〃 thought our hero as he looked in vain for
his chum among the throng on the streets。 〃I've got time to take a stroll
down to his house。〃
Tom was about to cross the street when he was startled by the sound of
an automobile horn loudly blown just at his side。 Then a voice called：
〃Hey； there！ Git out of the way if you don't want to be run over！〃
He looked up； and saw a car careening along。 At the wheel was the
red…haired bully； Andy Foger； and in the tonneau were Sam Snedecker and
Pete Bailey。
〃Git out of the way；〃 added Sam； and he grinned maliciously at Tom。
The latter stepped back； well out of the path of the car； which was not
moving very fast。 Just in front of Tom was a puddle of muddy water。 There
was no necessity for Andy steering into it； but he saw his opportunity； and
a moment later one of the big pneumatic tires had plunged into the dirty
fluid； spattering it all over Tom； some even going as high as his face。
〃Ha！ ha！〃 laughed Andy。 〃Maybe you'll get out of my way next time；
Tom Swift。〃
The young inventor was almost speechless from righteous anger。 He
wiped the mud from his face； glanced down at his clothes； which were all
but ruined； and called out：
〃Hold on there； Andy Foger！ I want to see you！〃 for he thought of the
time when Andy had shut him in the tank。
〃Ta！ ta！〃 shouted Pete Bailey。
〃See you later；〃 added Sam。
〃Better go home and take a bath； and then sail away in your
submarine；〃 went on Andy。 〃I'll bet it will sink。〃
Before Tom could reply the auto had turned a corner。 Disgusted and
angry； he tried to sop up some of the muddy water with his handkerchief。
While thus engaged he heard his name called； and looked up to see Ned
Newton。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
〃What's the matter？ Fall down？〃 asked his chum。
〃Andy Foger；〃 replied Tom。
〃That's enough；〃 retorted Ned。 〃I can guess the rest。 We'll have to tar
and feather him some day； and ride him out of town on a rail。 I'd kick him
myself； only his father is a director in the bank where I work； and I'd be
fired if I did。 Can't afford any such pleasure。 But some day I'll give Andy a
good trouncing； and then resign before they can discharge me。 But I'll be
looking for another job before I do that。 Come on to my house； Tom； and
I'll help you clean up。〃
Tom was a little more presentable when he left his chum's residence；
after spending the evening there； but he was still burning for revenge
against Andy and his cronies。 He had half a notion to go to Andy's house
and tell Mr。 Foger how nearly serious the bully's prank at the sub marine
had been； but be concluded that Mr。 Foger could only uphold his son。 〃No；
I'll settle with him myself；〃 decided Tom。
Bidding Eradicate keep a watchful eye about the house； and leaving
word for Mr。 Damon to be sure to come to the coast if he again called at
the Shopton house； Tom and Mr。 Sharp prepared to make their return trip
early the next morning。
The gas tank was filled and the Red Cloud arose in the air。 Then； with
the propellers moving at moderate speed； the nose of the craft was pointed
toward the New Jersey coas
