tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第27章
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They met with but a single accident； and that was when the forward
electrical plate broke。 But with the aft one still in commission； and the
auxiliary screws； they made good time。 Just before reaching home they
settled down to the bottom and donned the diving suits again； even Mr。
Swift taking his turn。 Mr。 Damon caught some large lobsters； of which he
was very fond； or； rather； to be more correct； the lobsters caught him。
When he entered the diving chamber there were four fine ones clinging to
different parts of his diving suit。 Some of them were served for dinner。
The adventurers safely reached the New Jersey coast； and the
submarine was docked。 Mr。 Swift at once communicated with the proper
authorities concerning the recovery of the gold。 He offered to divide with
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
the actual owners； after he and his friends had been paid for their services；
but as the revolutionary party to whom the bullion was intended had gone
out of existence； there was no one to officially claim the treasure； so it all
went to Tom and his friends； who made an equitable distribution of it。 The
young inventor did not forget to buy Mrs。 Baggert a fine diamond ring； as
he had promised。
As for Berg and his employers； they were； it was learned later； greatly
chagrined at finding the wreck valueless。 They tried to make trouble for
Tom and his father； but were not successful。
A few days after arriving at the seacoast cottage； Tom； his father and
Mr。 Damon went to Shopton in the airship。 Captain Weston； Garret
Jackson and Mn Sharp remained behind in charge of the submarine。 It was
decided that the Swifts would keep the craft and not sell it to the
Government； as Tom said they might want to go after more treasure some
day。
〃I must first deposit this gold；〃 said Mr。 Swift as the airship landed in
front of the shed at his home。 〃It won't do to keep it in the house over
night； even if the Happy Harry gang is in jail。〃
Tom helped him take it to the bank。 As they were making perhaps the
largest single deposit ever put in the institution； Ned Newton came out。
〃Well； Tom；〃 he cried to his chum； 〃it seems that you are never going
to stop doing things。 You've conquered the air； the earth and the water。〃
〃What have you been doing while I've been under water； Ned？〃 asked
the young inventor。
〃Oh； the same old thing。 Running errands and doing all sorts of work
in the bank。〃
Tom had a sudden idea。 He whispered to his father and Mr。 Swift
nodded。 A little later he was closeted with Mr。 Prendergast； the bank
president。 It was not long before Ned and Tom were called in。
〃I have some good news for you； Ned；〃 said Mr。 Prendergast； while
Tom smiled。 〃Mr。 Swift erahemone of our largest depositors； has
spoken to me about you； Ned。 I find that you have been very faithful。 You
are hereby appointed assistant cashier； and of course you will get a much
larger salary。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
Ned could hardly believe it； but he knew then what Tom had
whispered to Mr。 Swift。 The wishes of a depositor who brings much gold
bullion to a bank can hardly be ignored。
〃Come on out and have some soda；〃 invited Tom； and when Ned
looked inquiringly at the president； the latter nodded an assent。
As the two lads were crossing the street to a drug store； something
whizzed past them； nearly running them down。
〃What sort of an auto was that？〃 cried Tom。
〃That？ Oh； that was Andy Foger's new car；〃 answered Ned。 〃He's been
breaking the speed laws every day lately； but no one seems to bother him。
It's because his father is rich； I suppose。 Andy says he has the fastest car
ever built。〃
〃He has； eh？〃 remarked Tom； while a curious look came into his eyes。
〃Well； maybe I can build one that will beat his。〃
And whether the young inventor did or not you can learn by reading
the fifth volume of this series； to be called 〃Tom Swift and His Electric
Runabout； Or； The Speediest Car on the Road。〃
〃Well； Tom； I certainly appreciate what you did for me in getting me a
better position；〃 remarked Ned as they left the drug store。 〃I was
beginning to think I'd never get promoted。 Say； have you anything to do
this evening？ If you haven't； I wish you'd come over to my house。 I've got
a lot of pictures I took while you were away。〃
〃Sorry； but I can't；〃 replied Tom。
〃Why； are you going to build another airship or submarine？〃
〃No； but I'm going to see Oh； what do you want to know for；
anyhow？〃 demanded the young inventor with a blush。 〃Can't a fellow go
see a girl without being cross…questioned？〃
〃Oh； of course；〃 replied Ned with a laugh。 〃Give Miss Nestor my
regards；〃 and at this Tom blushed still more。 But； as he said； that was his
own affair。
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