tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第23章
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〃Yes； something is going to happen pretty soon；〃 observed Captain
Weston。 〃The storm will break shortly； I think。〃
They sat languidly about the cabin。 It was so oppressive that even the
thought of the doom that awaited them in the morning could hardly seem
worse than the terrible heat。 They could hear movements going on about
the ship； movements which indicated that preparations were being made
for something unusual。 There was a rattling of a chain through a hawse
hole； and Captain Weston remarked：
〃They're putting down another anchor。 Admiral Fanchetti had better
get away from the island； though； unless he wants to be wrecked。 He'll be
blown ashore in less than no time。 No cable or chain will hold in such
storms as they have here。〃
There came a period of silence； which was suddenly broken by a howl
as of some wild beast。
〃What's that？〃 cried Tom； springing up from where he was stretched
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
out on the cabin floor。
〃Only the wind；〃 replied the captain。 〃The storm has arrived。〃
The howling kept up； and soon the ship began to rock。 The wind
increased； and a little later there could be heard； through an opened port in
the prisoners' cabin； the dash of rain。
〃It's a regular hurricane！〃 exclaimed the captain。 〃I wonder if the
cables will hold？〃
〃What about the submarine？〃 asked Mr。 Swift anxiously。
〃I haven't much fear for her。 She lies so low in the water that the wind
can't get much hold on her。 I don't believe she'll drag her anchor。〃
Once more came a fierce burst of wind； and a dash of rain； and then；
suddenly above the outburst of the elements； there sounded a crash on
deck。 It was followed by excited cries。
〃Something's happened！〃 yelled Tom。 The prisoners gathered in a
frightened group in the middle of the cabin。 The cries were repeated； and
then came a rush of feet just outside the cabin door。
〃Our guards！ They're leaving！〃 shouted Tom。
〃Right！〃 exclaimed Captain Weston。 〃Now's our chance！ Come on！ If
we're going to escape we must do it while the storm is at its height； and all
is in confusion。 Come on！〃
Tom tried the door。 It was locked。
〃One side！〃 shouted the captain； and this time he did not pause to say
〃by your leave。〃 He came at the portal on the run； and his shoulder struck
it squarely。 There was a splintering and crashing of wood； and the door
was burst open。
〃Follow me！〃 cried the valiant sailor； and Tom and the others rushed
after him。 They could hear the wind howling more loudly than ever； and as
they reached the deck the rain dashed into their faces with such violence
that they could hardly see。 But they were aware that something had
occurred。 By the light of several lanterns swaying in the terrific blast they
saw that one of the auxiliary masts had broken off near the deck。
It had fallen against the chart house； smashing it； and a number of
sailors were laboring to clear away the wreckage。
〃Fortune favors us！〃 cried Captain Weston。 〃Come on！ Make for the
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
small boat。 It's near the side ladder。 We'll lower the boat and pull to the
submarine。〃
There came a flash of lightning； and in its glare Tom saw something
that caused him to cry out。
〃Look！〃 he shouted。 〃The submarine。 She's dragged her anchors！〃
The Advance was much closer to the warship than she had been that
afternoon。 Captain Weston looked over the side。
〃It's the San Paula that's dragging her anchors； not the submarine！〃 he
shouted。 〃We're bearing down on her！ We must act quickly。 Come on； we'll
lower the boat！〃
In the rush of wind and the dash of rain the prisoners crowded to the
accommodation companion ladder； which was still over the side of the big
ship。 No one seemed to be noticing them； for Admiral Fanchetti was on
the bridge； yelling orders for the clearing away of the wreckage。 But
Lieutenant Drascalo； coming up from below at that moment； caught sight
of the fleeing ones。 Drawing his sword； he rushed at them； shouting：
〃The prisoners！ The prisoners！ They are escaping！〃
Captain Weston leaped toward the lieutenant
〃Look out for his sword！〃 cried Tom。 But the doughty sailor did not
fear the weapon。 Catching up a coil of rope； he cast it at the lieutenant。 It
struck him in the chest； and he staggered back； lowering his sword。
Captain Weston leaped forward； and with a terrific blow sent
Lieutenant Drascalo to the deck。
〃There！〃 cried the sailor。 〃I guess you won't yell 'Silenceo！' for a while
now。〃
There was a rush of Brazilians toward the group of prisoners。 Tom
caught one with a blow on the chin； and felled him； while Captain Weston
disposed of two more； and Mr。 Sharp and Mr。 Damon one each。 The
savage fighting of the Americans was too much for the foreigners； and
they drew back。
〃Come on！〃 cried Captain Weston again。 〃The storm is getting worse。
The warship will crash into the submarine in a few minutes。 Her anchors
aren't holding。 I didn't think they would。〃
He made a dash for the ladder； and a glance showed him that the small
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boat was in the water at the foot of it。 The craft had not been hoisted on
the davits。
〃Luck's with us at last！〃 cried Tom； Seeing it also。 〃Shall I help you；
dad？〃
〃No； I think I'm all right。 Go ahead。〃
There came such a gust of wind that the San Paula was heeled over；
and the wreck of the mast； rolling about； crashed into the side of a deck
house； splintering it。 A crowd of sailors； led by Admiral Fanchetti； who
were again rushing on the escaping prisoners； had to leap back out of the
way of the rolling mast。
〃Catch them！ Don't let them get away！〃 begged the commander； but
the sailors evidently had no desire to close in with the Americans。
Through the rush of wind and rain Tom and his friends staggered down
the ladder。 It was hard work to maintain one's footing； but they managed it。
On account of the high side of the ship the water was comparatively calm
under her lee； and； though the small boat was bobbing about； they got
aboard。 The oars were in place； and in another moment they had shoved
off from the landing stage which formed the foot of the accommodation
ladder。
〃Now for the Advance！〃 murmured Captain Weston。
〃Come back！ Come back； dogs of Americans！〃 cried a voice at the rail
over their heads； and looking up； Tom saw Lieutenant Drascalo。 He had
snatched a carbine from a marine； and was pointing it at the recent
prisoners。 He fired； the flash of the gun and a dazzling chain of lightning
coming together。 The thunder swallowed up the report of the carbine； but
the bullet whistled uncomfortable close to Tom's head。 The blackness that
followed the lightning shut out the view of everything for a few seconds；
and when the next flash came the adventurers saw that they were close to
their submarine。
A fusillade of shots sounded from the deck of the warship； but as the
marines were poor marksmen at best； and as the swaying of the ship
disconcerted them； our friends were in little danger。
There was quite a sea once they were beyond the protection of the side
of the warship； but Captain Weston； who was rowing； knew how to
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manage a boat skillfully； and he soon had the craft alongside the bobbing
submarine。
〃Get aboard； now； quick！〃 he cried。
They leaped to the small deck； casting the rowboat adrift。 It was the
work of but a moment to open the conning tower。 As they started to
descend they were met by several Brazilians coming up。
〃Overboard with 'em！〃 yelled the captain。 〃Let them swim ashore or to
their ship！〃
With almost superhuman strength he tossed one big sailor from the
small deck。 Another showed fight； but he went to join his companion in
the swirling water。 A man rushed at Tom； seeking the while to draw his
sword； but the young inventor； with a neat left…hander； sent him to join the
other two； and the remainder did not wait to try conclusions。 They leaped
for their lives； and soon all could be seen； in the frequent lightning flashes；
swimming toward the warship which was now closer than ever to the
submarine
〃Get inside and we'll sink below the surface！〃 called Tom。 〃Then we
don't care what happens。〃
They closed the steel door of the conning tower。 As they did so they
heard the patter of bullets from carbines fired from the San Paulo。 Then
came a violent tossing of the Advance； the waves were becoming higher as
they caught the full force of the hurricane。 It took but an instant to sever；
from within； the cable attached to the anchor； which was one belonging to
the warship。 The Advance began drifting。
〃Open the tanks； Mr。 Sharp！〃 cried Tom。 〃Captain Weston and I will
steer。 Once below we'll start the engines。〃
Amid a crash of thunder and dazzling flashes of lightning； the
submarine began to sink。 Tom； in the conning tower had a sight of the San
Paulo as it drifted nearer and nearer under the influence of the mighty
wind。 As one bright flash came he saw Admiral Fanchetti and Lieutenant
Drascalo leaning over the rail and gazing at the Advance。
A moment later the view faded from sight as the submarine sank
below the surface of the troubled sea。 She was tossed about for some time
until deep enough to escape the surface motion。 Waiting until she was far
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enough down so that her lights would not o
