tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第21章
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did not again venture on the deck of the submarine。
〃Seize them； men！〃 cried the gold…laced officer again； and this time he
and his fellows； including the crew； crowded so closely around Tom and
his friends that they could do nothing。 Even Captain Weston found it
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
impossible to offer any resistance； for three men grabbed hold of him but
his spirit was still a fighting one； and he struggled desperately but
uselessly。
〃How dare you do this？〃 he cried。
〃Yes；〃 added Tom； 〃what right have you to interfere with us？〃
〃Every right；〃 declared the gold…laced officer。
〃You are in Brazilian territory； and I arrest you。〃
〃What for？〃 demanded Mr。 Sharp。
〃Because your ship is an American submarine； and we have received
word that you intend to damage our shipping； and may try to torpedo our
warships。 I believe you tried to disable us a little while ago； but failed。 We
consider that an act of war and you will be treated accordingly。 Take them
on board the San Paulo；〃 the officer Went on； turning to his aides。 〃We'll
try them by court…marital here。 Some of you remain and guard this
submarine。 We will teach these filibustering Americans a lesson。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Twenty
Doomed to Death
There was no room on the small deck of the submarine to make a
stand against the officers and crew of the Brazilian warship。 In fact； the
capture of the gold…seekers had been effected so suddenly that their
astonishment almost deprived them of the power to think clearly。
At another command from the officer； who was addressed as Admiral
Fanchetti； several of the sailors began to lead Tom and his friends toward
the small boat。
〃Do you feel all right； father？〃 inquired the lad anxiously； as he looked
at his parent。 〃These scoundrels have no right to treat us so。〃
〃Yes； Tom； I'm all right as far as the electric shock is concerned； but I
don't like to be handled in this fashion。〃
〃We ought not to submit！〃 burst out Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless the stars and
stripes！ We ought to fight。〃
〃There's no chance；〃 said Mr。 Sharp。 〃We are right under the guns of
the ship。 They could sink us with one shot。 I guess we'll have to give in for
the time being。〃
〃It is most unpleasant； if I may be allowed the expression；〃
commented Captain Weston mildly。 He seemed to have lost his sudden
anger； hut there was a steely glint in his eyes； and a grim； set look around
his month that showed his temper was kept under control only by an effort。
It boded no good to the sailors who had hold of the doughty captain if he
should once get loose； and it was noticed that they were on their guard。
As for Tom； he submitted quietly to the two Brazilians who had hold
of either arm； and Mr。 Swift was held by only one； for it was seen that he
was feeble。
〃Into the boat with them！〃 cried Admiral Fanchetti。 〃And guard them
well； Lieutenant Drascalo； for I heard them plotting to escape；〃 and the
admiral signaled to a younger officer； who was in charge of the men
guarding the prisoners。
〃Lieutenant Drascalo； eh？〃 murmured Mr。 Damon。 〃I think they made
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
a mistake naming him。 It ought to be Rascalo。 He looks like a rascal。〃
〃Silenceo！〃 exclaimed the lieutenant； scowling at the odd character'。
〃Bless my spark plug！ He's a regular fire…eater！〃 went on Mr。 Damon；
who appeared to have fully recovered his spirits。
〃Silenceo！〃 cried the lieutenant； scowling again； but Mr。 Damon did
not appear to mind。
Admiral Fanchetti and several others of the gold…laced officers
remained aboard the submarine； while Tom and his friends were hustled
into the small boat and rowed toward the warship。
〃I hope they don't damage our craft；〃 murmured the young inventor； as
he saw the admiral enter the conning tower。
〃If they do； we'll complain to the United States consul and demand
damages；〃 said Mr。 Swift
〃I'm afraid we won't have a chance to communicate with the consul；〃
remarked Captain Weston。
〃What do you mean？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless my shoelaces； but
will these scoundrels〃
〃Silenceo！〃 cried Lieutenant Drascalo quickly。 〃Dogs of Americans；
do you wish to insult us？〃
〃Impossible； you wouldn't appreciate a good； genuine United States
insult；〃 murmured Tom under his breath。
〃What I mean；〃 went on the captain； 〃is that these people may carry
the proceedings off with a high hand。 You heard the admiral speak of a
court…martial。〃
〃Would they dare do that？〃 inquired Mr。 Sharp。
〃They would dare anything in this part of the world； I'm afraid；〃
resumed Captain Weston。 〃I think I see their plan； though。 This admiral is
newly in command； his uniform shows that He wants to make a name for
himself； and he seizes on our submarine as an excuse。 He can send word to
his government that he destroyed a torpedo craft that sought to wreck his
ship。 Thus he will acquire a reputation。〃 〃But would his government
support him in such a hostile act against the United States； a friendly
nation？〃 asked Tom。
〃Oh； he would not claim to have acted against the United States as a
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
power。 He would say that it was a private submarine； and； as a matter of
fact； it is。 While we are under the protection of the stars and stripes； our
vessel is not a Government one；〃 and Captain Weston spoke the last in a
low voice； so the scowling lieutenant could not hear。
〃What will they do with us？〃 inquired Mr。 Swift。
〃Have some sort of a court…martial； perhaps；〃 went on the captain；
〃and confiscate our craft Then they will send us back home； I expect for
they would not dare harm us。〃
〃But take our submarine！〃 cried Tom。 〃The villains〃
〃Silenceo！〃 shouted Lieutenant Drascalo and he drew his sword。
By this time the small boat was under the big guns of the San Paulo；
and the prisoners were ordered； in broken English； to mount a companion
ladder that hung over the side。 In a short time they were on deck； amid a
crowd of sailors； and they could see the boat going back to bring off the
admiral； who signaled from the submarine。 Tom and his friends were taken
below to a room that looked like a prison； and there； a little later； they
were visited by Admiral Fanchetti and several officers。
〃You will be tried at once；〃 said the admiral。 〃I have examined your
submarine and I find she carries two torpedo tubes。 It is a wonder you did
not sink me at once。〃
〃Those are not torpedo tubes！〃 cried Tom； unable to keep silent；
though Captain Weston motioned him to do so。
〃I know torpedo tubes when I see them；〃 declared the admiral。 〃I
consider I had a very narrow escape。 Your country is fortunate that mine
does not declare war against it for this act。 But I take it you are acting
privately； for you fly no flag； though you claim to be from the United
States。〃
〃There's no place for a flag on the submarine；〃 went on Tom。 〃What
good would it be under water？〃
〃Silenceo！〃 cried Lieutenant Drascalo； the admonition to silence
seeming to be the only command of which he was capable。
〃I shall confiscate your craft for my government；〃 went on the admiral；
〃and shall punish you as the court…martial may direct。 You will be tried at
once。〃
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It was in vain for the prisoners to protest。 Matters were carried with a
high hand。 They were allowed a spokesman； and Captain Weston； who
understood Spanish； was selected； that language being used。 But the
defense was a farce； for he was scarcely listened to。 Several officers
testified before the admiral； who was judge； that they had seen the
submarine rise out of the water； almost under the prow of the San Paulo。 It
was assumed that the Advance had tried to wreck the warship； but had
failed。 It was in vain that Captain Weston and the others told of the reason
for their rapid ascent from the ocean depthsthat Mr。 Swift had been
shocked； and needed fresh air。 Their story was not believed。
〃We have heard enough！〃 suddenly exclaimed the admiral。 〃The
evidence against you is over…whelmingerwhat you Americans call
conclusive；〃 and be was speaking then in broken English。 〃I find you
guilty； and the sentence of this court…martial is that you be shot at sunrise；
three days hence！〃
〃Shot！〃 cried Captain Weston； staggering back at this unexpected
sentence。 His companions turned white； and Mr。 Swift leaned against his
son for support。
〃Bless my stars！ Of all the scoundrelly！〃 began Mr。 Damon。
〃Silenceo！〃 shouted the lieutenant； waving his sword。
〃You will be shot；〃 proceeded the admiral。 〃Is not that the verdict of
the honorable court？〃 he asked； looking at his fellow officers。 They all
nodded gravely。
〃But look here！〃 objected Captain Weston。 〃You don't dare do that！ We
are citizens of the United States； and〃
〃I consider you no better than pirates；〃 interrupted the admiral。 〃You
have an armed submarinea submarine with torpedo tubes。 You invade
our harbor with it； and come up almost under my ship。 You have forfeited
your right to the protection of your country； and I have no fear
