tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第26章
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Fitted with a long； sharp steel ram in front； the Advance was
peculiarly adapted for this sort of work。 In designing the ship this ram was
calculated to be used against hostile vessels in war time； for the submarine
was at first； as we know； destined for a Government boat。 Now the ram
was to serve a good turn。
To make sure that the attempt would be a success； the machinery of the
craft was carefully gone over。 It was found to be in perfect order； save for
a few adjustments which were needed。 Then； as it was night； though there
was no difference in the appearance of things below the surface； it was
decided to turn in； and begin work in the morning。 Nor did the gold…
seekers go to the surface； for they feared they might encounter a storm。
〃We had trouble enough locating the wreck； said Captain Weston； 〃and
if we go up we may be blown off our course。 We have air enough to stay
below； haven't we； Tom？〃
〃Plenty；〃 answered the lad； looking at the gages。
After a hearty breakfast the next morning； the submarine crew got
ready for their hard task。 The craft was backed away as far as was practical；
and then； running at full speed； she rammed the wreck。 The shock was
terrific； and at first it was feared some damage had been done to the
Advance； but she stood the strain。
〃Did we open up much of a hole？〃 anxiously asked Mr。 Swift。
〃Pretty good；〃 replied Tom； observing it through the conning tower
bull's…eyes； when the submarine had backed off again。 〃Let's give her
another。〃
Once more the great steel ram hit into the side of the Boldero； and
again the submarine shivered from the shock。 But there was a bigger hole
in the wreck now； and after Captain Weston had viewed it he decided it
was large enough to allow a person to enter and place a charge of
dynamite so that the treasure ship would be broken up。
Tom and the captain placed the explosive。 Then the Advance was
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
withdrawn to a safe distance。 There was a dull rumble； a great swirling of
the water； which was made murky； but when it cleared； and the submarine
went back； it was seen that the wreck was effectively broken up。 It was in
two parts； each one easy of access。
〃That's the stuff！〃 cried Tom。 〃Now to get at the gold！〃
〃Yes； get out the diving suits；〃 added Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless my watch…
charm； I think I'll chance it in one myself！ Do you think the sharks are all
gone； Captain Weston？〃
〃I think so。〃
In a short time Tom； the captain； Mr。 Sharp and Mr。 Damon were
attired in the diving suits； Mr。 Swift not caring to venture into such a great
depth of water。 Besides； it was necessary for at least one person to remain
in the submarine to operate the diving chamber。
Walking slowly along the bottom of the sea the four gold… seekers
approached the wreck。 They looked on all sides for a sight of the sharks；
but the monster fish seemed to have deserted that part of the ocean。 Tom
was the first to reach the now disrupted steamer。 He found he could easily
climb up； for boxes and barrels from the cargo holds were scattered all
about by the explosion。 Captain Weston soon joined the lad。 The sailor
motioned Tom to follow him； and being more familiar with ocean craft the
captain was permitted to take the lead。 He headed aft； seeking to locate the
captain's cabin。 Nor was he long in finding it。 He motioned for the others
to enter； that the combined illumination of the lamps in their helmets
would make the place bright enough so a search could be made for the
gold。 Tom suddenly seized the arm of the captain； and pointed to one
corner of the cabin。 There stood a small safe； and at the sight of it Captain
Weston moved toward it。 The door was not locked； probably having been
left open when the ship was deserted。 Swinging it back the interior was
revealed。
It was empty。 There was no gold bullion in it。
There was no mistaking the dejected air of Captain Weston。 The others
shared his feelings； but though they all felt like voicing their
disappointment； not a word could be spoken。 Mr。 Sharp； by vigorous
motions； indicated to his companions to seek further。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
They did so； spending all the rest of the day in the wreck； save for a
short interval for dinner。 But no gold rewarded their search。
Tom； late that afternoon； wandered away from the others； and found
himself in the captain's cabin again； with the empty safe showing dimly in
the water that was all about。
〃Hang it all！〃 thought the lad； 〃we've had all our trouble for nothing！
They must have taken the gold with them。〃
Idly he raised his steel bar； and struck it against the partition back of
the safe。 To his astonishment the partition seemed to fall inward； revealing
a secret compartment。 The lad leaned forward to bring the light for his
helmet to play on the recess。 He saw a number of boxes； piled one upon
the other。 He had accidentally touched a hidden spring and opened a secret
receptacle。 But what did it contain？
Tom reached in and tried to lift one of the boxes。 He found it beyond
his strength。 Trembling from excitement； he went in search of the others。
He found them delving in the after part of the wreck； but by motions our
hero caused them to follow him。 Captain Weston showed the excitement
he felt as soon as he caught sight of the boxes。 He and Mr。 Sharp lifted one
out； and placed it on the cabin floor。 They pried off the top with their bars。
There； packed in layers； were small yellow bars； dull； gleaming；
yellow bars！ It needed but a glance to show that they were gold bullion。
Tom had found the treasure。 The lad tried to dance around there in the
cabin of the wreck； nearly three miles below the surface of the ocean； but
the pressure of water was too much for him。 Their trip had been
successful。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Twenty…Five
Home With the Gold
There was no time to be lost。 They were in a treacherous part of the
ocean； and strong currents might at any time further break up the wreck；
so that they could not come at the gold。 It was decided； by means of
motions； to at once transfer the treasure to the submarine。 As the boxes
were too heavy to carry easily； especially as two men； who were required
to lift one； could not walk together in the uncertain footing afforded by the
wreck； another plan was adopted。 The boxes were opened and the bars； a
few at a time； were dropped on a firm； sandy place at the side of the wreck。
Tom and Captain Weston did this work； while Mr。 Sharp and Mr。 Damon
carried the bullion to the diving chamber of the Advance。 They put the
yellow bars inside； and when quite a number had been thus shifted； Mr。
Swift； closing the chamber； pumped the water out and removed the gold。
Then he opened the chamber to the divers again； and the process was
repeated； until all the bullion had been secured。
Tom would have been glad to make a further examination of the wreck；
for he thought he could get some of the rifles the ship carried； but Captain
Weston signed to him not to attempt this。
The lad went to the pilot house； while his father and Mr。 Sharp took
their places in the engine…room。 The gold had been safely stowed in Mr。
Swift's cabin。
Tom took a last look at the wreck before he gave the starting signal。 As
he gazed at the bent and twisted mass of steel that had once been a great
ship； he saw something long； black and shadowy moving around from the
other side； coming across the bows。
〃There's another big shark；〃 he observed to Captain Weston。 〃They're
coming back after us。〃
The captain did not speak。 He was staring at the dark form。 Suddenly；
from what seemed the pointed nose of it； there gleamed a light； as from
some great eye。
〃Look at that！〃 cried Tom。 〃That's no shark！〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
〃If you want my opinion；〃 remarked the sailor； 〃I should say it was the
other submarinethat of Berg and his friendsthe Wonder。 They've
managed to fix up their craft and are after the gold。〃
〃But they're too late！〃 cried Tom excitedly。 〃Let's tell them so。〃
〃No； advised the captain。 〃We don't want any trouble with them。〃
Mr。 Swift came forward to see why his son had not given the signal to
start。 He was shown the other submarine； for now that the Wonder had
turned on several searchlights； there was no doubt as to the identity of the
craft。
〃Let's get away unobserved if we can；〃 he suggested。 〃We have had
trouble enough。〃
It was easy to do this； as the Advance was hidden behind the wreck；
and her lights were glowing but dimly。 Then； too； those in the other
submarine were so excited over the finding of what they supposed was the
wreck containing the treasure； that they paid little attention to anything
else。
〃I wonder how they'll feel when they find the gold gone？〃 asked Tom
as he pulled the lever starting the pumps。
〃Well； we may have a chance to learn； when we get back to
civilization；〃 remarked the captain。
The surface was soon reached； and then； under fair skies； and on a
calm sea； the voyage home was begun。 Part of the time the Advance sailed
on the top； and part of the time submerged。
They met with but a single accident； and that was when the forward
electrical plate broke。 But
