tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第12章
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our trail； even if he has got the wrong route；〃 and he laughed again。
It was no small relief to Mn Swift and Mr。 Sharp to learn that Captain
Weston had no objections to a submarine； as they feared he might have。
The captain； in his diffident manner； made friends at once with the
treasure…hunters； and he and Mr。 Damon struck up quite an acquaintance。
Tom told of his meeting with the seaman； and the latter related； with much
gusto； the story of how he had fooled Mr。 Berg。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
〃Well； perhaps you'd like to come and take a look at the craft that is to
be our home while we're beneath the water；〃 suggested Mr。 Swift and the
sailor assenting； the aged inventor； with much pride； assisted by Tom；
pointed out on the Advance the features of interest。 Captain Weston gave
hearty approval； making one or two minor suggestions； which were carried
out。
〃And so you launch her to…morrow；〃 he concluded； when he had
completed the inspection 〃Well； I hope it's a success； if I may be permitted
to say so。〃
There were busy times around the machine shop next day。 So much
secrecy had been maintained that none of the residents； or visitors to the
coast resort； were aware that in their midst was such a wonderful craft as
the submarine。 The last touches were put on the under…water ship； the
ways； leading from the shop to the creek； were well greased； and all was in
readiness for the launching。 The tide would soon be at flood； and then the
boat would slide down the timbers （at least； that was the hope of all）； and
would float in the element meant to receive her。 It was decided that no one
should be aboard when the launching took place； as there was an element
of risk attached； since it was not known just how buoyant the craft was。 It
was expected she would float； until the filled tanks took her to the bottom；
but there was no telling。
〃It will be flood tide now in ten minutes；〃 remarked Captain Weston
quietly； looking at his watch。 Then he took an observation through the
telescope。 〃No hostile ships hanging in the offing；〃 he reported。 〃All is
favorable； if you don't mind me saying so；〃 and he seemed afraid lest his
remark might give offense。
〃Get ready；〃 ordered Mr。 Swift。 〃Tom； see that the ropes are all clear；〃
for it had been decided to ease the Advance down into the water by means
of strong cables and windlasses； as the creek was so narrow that the
submarine； if launched in the usual way； would poke her nose into the
opposite mud bank and stick there。
〃All clear；〃 reported the young inventor。
〃High tide！〃 exclaimed the captain a moment later； snapping shut his
watch。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
〃Let go！〃 ordered Mr。 Swift； and the various windlasses manned by the
inventor； Tom and the others began to unwind their ropes。 Slowly the ship
slid along the greased ways。 Slowly she approached the water。 How
anxiously they all watched her！ Nearer and nearer her blunt nose； with the
electric propulsion plate and the auxiliary propeller； came to the creek； the
waters of which were quiet now； awaiting the turn of the tide。
Now little waves lapped the steel sides。 It was the first contact of the
Advance with her native element。
〃Pay out the rope faster！〃 cried Mr。 Swift。
The windlasses were turned more quickly Foot by foot the craft slid
along until； with a final rush； the stern left the ways and the submarine was
afloat。 Now would come the test。 Would she ride on an even keel； or sink
out of sight； or turn turtle？ They all ran to the water's edge； Tom in the
lead。
〃Hurrah！〃 suddenly yelled the lad； trying to stand on his head。 〃She
floats！ She's a success！ Come on！ Let's get aboard！〃
For； true enough； the Advance was riding like a duck on the water。 She
had been proportioned just right； and her lines were perfect。 She rode as
majestically as did any ship destined to sail on the surface； and not
intended to do double duty。
〃Come on； we must moor her to the pier；〃 directed Mr。 Sharp。 〃The
tide will turn in a few minutes and take her out to sea。〃
He and Tom entered a small boat； and soon the submarine was tied to a
small dock that had been built for the purpose。
〃Now to try the engine；〃 suggested Mr。 Swift； who was almost
trembling with eagerness； for the completion of the ship meant much to
him。
〃One moment；〃 begged Captain Weston。 〃If you don't mind； I'll take an
observation；〃 he went on； and he swept the horizon with his telescope。
〃All clear；〃 he reported。 〃I think we may go aboard and make a trial trip。〃
Little time was lost in entering the cabin and engine… room； Garret
Jackson accompanying the party to aid with the machinery。 It did not take
long to start the motors； dynamos and the big gasolene engine that was the
vital part of the craft。 A little water was admitted to the tanks for ballast；
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
since the food and other supplies were not yet on board。 The Advance now
floated with the deck aft of the conning tower showing about two feet
above the surface of the creek。 Mr。 Swift and Tom entered the pilot house。
〃Start the engines；〃 ordered the aged inventor； 〃and we'll try my new
system of positive and negative electrical propulsion。〃
There was a hum and whir in the body of the ship beneath the feet of
Tom and his father。 Captain Weston stood on the little deck near the
conning tower。
〃All ready？〃 asked the youth through the speaking tube to Mr。 Sharp
and Mr。 Jackson in the engine…room。
〃All ready；〃 came the answer。
Tom threw over the connecting lever； while his father grasped the
steering wheel。 The Advance shot forward； moving swiftly along； about
half submerged。
〃She goes！ She goes！〃 cried Tom
〃She certainly does； if I may be permitted to say so；〃 was the calm
contribution of Captain Weston。 〃I congratulate you。〃
Faster and faster went the new craft。 Mr。 Swift headed her toward the
open sea； but stopped just before passing out of the creek； as he was not
yet ready to venture into deep water。
〃I want to test the auxiliary propellers；〃 he said。 After a little longer
trial of the electric propulsion plates； which were found to work
satisfactorily； sending the submarine up and down the creek at a fast rate；
the screws； such as are used on most submarines； were put into gear。 They
did well； but were not equal to the plates； nor was so much expected of
them。
〃I am perfectly satisfied；〃 announced Mr。 Swift as he once more
headed the boat to sea。 〃I think； Captain Weston； you had better go below
now。〃
〃Why so？〃
〃Because I am going to completely submerge the craft。 Tom； close the
conning tower door。 Perhaps you will come in here with us； Captain
Weston； though it will be rather a tight fit。〃
〃Thank you； I will。 I want to see how it feels to be in a pilot house
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
under water。〃
Tom closed the water…tight door of the conning tower。 Word was sent
through the tube to the engine…room that a more severe test of the ship was
about to be made。 The craft was now outside the line of breakers and in
the open sea。
〃Is everything ready； Tom？〃 asked his father in a quiet voice。
〃Everything；〃 replied the lad nervously； for the anticipation of being
about to sink below the surface was telling on them all； even on the calm；
old sea captain。
〃Then open the tanks and admit the water；〃 ordered Mr。 Swift。
His son turned a valve and adjusted some levers。 There was a hissing
sound； and the Advance began sinking。 She was about to dive beneath the
surface of the ocean； and those aboard her were destined to go through a
terrible experience before she rose again。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Eleven
On the Ocean Bed
Lower and lower sank the submarine。 There was a swirling and
foaming of the water as she went down； caused by the air bubbles which
the craft carried with her in her descent。 Only the top of the conning tower
was out of water now； the ocean having closed over the deck and the
rounded back of the boat。 Had any one been watching they would have
imagined that an accident was taking place。
In the pilot house； with its thick glass windows； Tom； his father and
Captain Weston looked over the surface of the ocean； which every minute
was coming nearer and nearer to them。
〃We'll be all under in a few seconds；〃 spoke Tom in a solemn voice； as
he listened to the water hissing into the tanks。
〃Yes； and then we can see what sort of progress we will make；〃 added
Mr。 Swift。 〃Everything is going fine； though；〃 he went on cheerfully。 〃I
believe I have a good boat。〃
〃There is no doubt of it in my mind；〃 remarked Captain Weston； and
Tom felt a little disappointed that the sailor did not shout out some such
expression as 〃Shiver my timbers！〃 or 〃Keel…haul the main braces； there；
you lubber！〃 But Captain Weston was not that kind of a sailor； though his
usually quiet demeanor could be quickly dropped on necessity； as Tom
learned later。
A few minutes more and the waters closed over the top of the conning
tower。 The Advance was completely submerged。 Through the thick glass
windows of the pilot house the occupants looked out into the greenish
water that swirled about them； but it could not enter。 Th
