tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第3章
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Snedecker and Pete Bailey； made trouble for Tom； chiefly because Tom
managed to beat Andy twice in boat races。
It was while in his motor…boat； Arrow； that Tom formed the
acquaintance of John Sharp； a veteran balloonist。 While coming down
Lake Carlopa on the way to the Swift home； which had been entered by
thieves； Tom； his father and Ned Newton； saw a balloon on fire over the
lake。 Hanging from a trapeze on it was Mr。 Sharp； who had made an
ascension from a fair ground。 By hard work on the part of Tom and his
friends the aeronaut was saved； and took up his residence with the Swifts。
His advent was most auspicious； for Tom and his father were then
engaged in perfecting an airship； and Mr。 Sharp was able to lend them his
skill； so that the craft was soon constructed。
In the third volume； called 〃Tom Swift and His Airship；〃 there was set
down the doings of the young inventor； Mr。 Sharp and Mr。 Damon on a
trip above the clouds。 They undertook it merely for pleasure； but they
encountered considerable danger； before they completed it； for they nearly
fell into a blazing forest once； and were later fired at by a crowd of excited
people。 This last act was to effect their capture； for they were taken for a
gang of bank robbers； and this was due directly to Andy Foger。
The morning after Tom and his friends started on their trip in the air；
the Shopton Bank was found to have been looted of seventy…five thousand
dollars。 Andy Foger at once told the police that Tom Swift had taken the
money； and when asked how he knew this； he said he had seen Tom
hanging around the bank the night before the vault was burst open； and
that the young inventor had some burglar tools in his possession。 Warrants
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
were at once sworn out for Tom and Mr。 Damon； who was also accused of
being one of the robbers； and a reward of five thousand dollars was
offered。
Tom； Mr。 Damon and Mr。 Sharp sailed on； all unaware of this； and
unable to account for being fired upon； until they accidentally read in the
paper an account of their supposed misdeeds。 They lost no time in starting
back home； and on； the way got on the track of the real bank robbers； who
were members of the Happy Harry gang。
How the robbers were captured in an exciting raid； how Tom
recovered most of the stolen money； and how he gave Andy Foger a
deserved thrashing for giving a false clue was told of； and there was an
account of a race in which the Red Cloud （as the airship was called） took
part； as well as details of how Tom and his friends secured the reward；
which Andy Foger hoped to collect。
Those of you who care to know how the Red Cloud was constructed；
and how she behaved in the air； even during accidents and when struck by
lightning； may learn by reading the third volume； for the airship was one
of the most successful ever constructed。
When the craft was finished； and the navigators were ready to start on
their first long trip； Mr。 Swift was asked to go with them。 He declined； but
would not tell why； until Tom； pressing him for an answer； learned that his
father was planning a submarine boat； which he hoped to enter in some
trials for Government prizes。 Mr。 Swift remained at home to work on this
submarine； while his son and Mr。 Sharp were sailing above the clouds。
On their return； however； and after the bank mystery had been cleared
up； Tom and Mr。 Sharp； aided Mr。 Swift in completing the submarine； until；
when the present story opens； it needed but little additional work to make
the craft ready for the water。
Of course it had to be built near the sea； as it would have been
impossible to transport it overland from Shopton。 So； before the keel was
laid； Mr。 Swift rented a large cottage at a seaside place on the New Jersey
coast and there； after； erecting a large shed； the work on the Advance； as
the under…water ship was called； was begun。
It was soon to be launched in a large creek that extended in from the
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
ocean and had plenty of water at high tide。 Tom and Mr。 Sharp made
several trips back and forth from Shopton in their airship； to see that all
was safe at home and occasionally to get needed tools and supplies from
the shops； for not all the apparatus could be moved from Shopton to the
coast。
It was when returning from one of these trips that Tom brought with
him the paper containing an account of the wreck of the Boldero and the
sinking of the treasure she carried。
Until late that night the three fortune…hunters discussed various
matters。
〃We'll hurry work on the ship；〃 said Mr。 Swift it length。 〃Tom； I
wonder if your friend； Mr。 Damon； would care to try how it seems under
Water？ He stood the air trip fairly well。〃
〃I'll write and ask him；〃 answered the lad。 〃I'm sure he'll go。〃
Securing； a few days later； the assistance of two mechanics； whom he
knew he could trust； for as yet the construction of the Advance was a
secret； Mr。 Swift prepared to rush work on the submarine； and for the next
three weeks there were busy times in the shed next to the seaside cottage。
So busy； in fact； were Tom and Mr。 Sharp； that they only found
opportunity for one trip in the airship； and that was to get some supplies
from the shops at home。
〃Well；〃 remarked Mr。 Swift one night； at the close of a hard day's work；
〃another week will see our craft completed。 Then we will put it in the
water and see how it floats； and whether it submerges as I hope it does。
But come on； Tom。 I want to lock up。 I'm very tired to…night。〃
〃All right； dad；〃 answered the young inventor coming from the
darkened rear of the shop。 〃I just want to〃
Ne paused suddenly； and appeared to be listening。 Then he moved
softly back to where he had come from。
〃What's the matter？〃 asked his father in a whisper。 〃What's up； Tom？〃
The lad did not answer Mr。 Swift； with a worried look on his face；
followed his son。 Mr。 Sharp stood in the door of the shop。
〃I thought I heard some one moving around back here；〃 went on Tom
quietly。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
〃Some one in this shop！〃 exclaimed the aged inventor excitedly。
〃Some one trying to steal my ideas again！ Mr。 Sharp； come here！ Bring
that rifle！ We'll teach these scoundrels a lesson！〃
Tom quickly darted hack to the extreme rear of the building。 There
was a scuffle； and the next minute Tom cried out：
〃What are you doing here？〃
〃Ha！ I beg your pardon；〃 replied a voice。 〃I am looking for Mr。 Barton
Swift。〃
〃My father；〃 remarked Tom。 〃But that's a queer place to look for him。
He's up front。 Father； here's a man who wishes to see you；〃 he called。
〃Yes； I strolled in； and seeing no one about I went to the rear of the
place；〃 the voice went on。 〃I hope I haven't transgressed。〃
〃We were busy on the other side of the shop； I guess；〃 replied Tom；
and he looked suspiciously at the man who emerged from the darkness
into the light from a window。 〃I beg your pardon for grabbing you the way
I did；〃 went on the lad； 〃but I thought you were one of a gang of men
we've been having trouble with。〃
〃Oh； that's all right；〃 continued the man easily。 〃I know Mr。 Swift； and
I think he will remember me。 Ah； Mr。 Swift； how do you do？〃 he added
quickly； catching sight of Tom's father； who； with Mr。 Sharp； was coming
to meet the lad。
〃Addison Berg！〃 exclaimed the aged inventor as he saw the man's face
more plainly。 〃What are you doing here？〃
〃I came to see you；〃 replied the man。 〃May I have a talk with you
privately？〃
〃II suppose so；〃 assented Mr。 Swift nervously。 〃Come into the
house。〃
Mr。 Berg left Tom's side and advanced to where Mr。 Swift was
standing。 Together the two emerged from the now fast darkening shop and
went toward the house。
〃Who is he？〃 asked Mr。 Sharp of the young inventor in a whisper。
〃I don't know；〃 replied the lad； 〃but； whoever he is； dad seems afraid
of him。 I'm going to keep my eyes open。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Three
Mr。 Berg is Astonished
Following his father and the stranger whom the aged inventor had
addressed as Mr。 Berg； Tom and Mr。 Sharp entered the house； the lad
having first made sure that Garret Jackson was on guard in the shop that
contained the sub marine。
〃Now；〃 said Mr。 Swift to the newcomer； 〃I am at your service。 What is
it you wish？〃
〃In the first place； let me apologize for having startled you and your
friends；〃 began the man。 〃I had no idea of sneaking into your workshop；
but I had just arrived here； and seeing the doors open I went in。 I heard no
one about； and I wandered to the back of the place。 There I happened to
stumble over a board〃
〃And I heard you；〃 interrupted Tom。
〃Is this one of your employees？〃 asked Mr。 Berg in rather frigid tones。
〃That is my son；〃 replied Mr。 Swift。
〃Oh； I beg your pardon。〃 The man's manner changed quickly。 〃Well； I
guess you did hear me； young man。 I didn't intend to hark my shins the
way I did； either。 You must have taken me for a burglar or a sneak thief。〃
〃I have been very much bothered by a gang of unscrupulous men；〃
said Mr。 Swift； 〃and I suppose Tom thought it was some of them sneaking
around again。〃
〃That's what I did；〃 added the lad。 〃I wasn't going to have an
