tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第6章
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〃This certainly is a pickle！〃 exclaimed Tom aloud。 〃I can't understand
how he ever got here。 He must have traced us after we went to Shopton in
the airship the last time。 Then he sneaked in here。 Probably he saw me
enter； but how could he knew enough to work the worm gear and close the
door？ Andy has had some experience with machinery； though； and one of
the vaults in the bank where his father is a director closed just like this
tank。 That's very likely how he learned about it。 But I've got to do
something else besides thinking of that sneak； Andy。 I've got to get out of
here。 Let's see if I can work the gear from inside。〃
Before he started； almost； Tom knew that it would be impossible。 The
tank was made to close from the interior of the submarine； and the heavy
door； built to withstand the pressure of tons of water； could not be forced
except by the proper means。
〃No use trying that；〃 concluded the lad； after a tiring attempt to force
back the sliding door with his hands。 〃I've got to call for help。〃
He shouted until the vibrations in the confined space made his ears
ring； and the mere exertion of raising his voice to the highest pitch made
his heart beat quickly。 Yet there came no response。 He hardly expected that
there would be any； for with his father and Mr。 Sharp away； the engineer
absent on an errand； and Mrs。 Baggert in the house some distance off；
there was no one to hear his calls for help； even if they had been capable
of penetrating farther than the extent of the shed； where the under…water
craft had been constructed。
〃I've got to wait until some of them come out here；〃 thought Tom。
〃They'll be sure to release me and make a search。 Then it will be easy
enough to call to them and tell them where I am； once they are inside the
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
shed。 But〃 He paused； for a horrible fear came over him。 〃Suppose they
should cometoo late？〃 The tank was airtight。 There was enough air in it
to last for some time； but； sooner or later； it would no longer support life。
Already； Tom thought； it seemed oppressive； though probably that was his
imagination。
〃I must get out！〃 he repeated frantically。 〃I'll die in here soon。〃
Again he tried to shove back the steel door。 Then he repeated his cries
until be was weary。 No one answered him。 He fancied once he could hear
footsteps in the shed； and thought； perhaps； it was Andy； come back to
gloat over him。 Then Tom knew the red…haired coward would not dare
venture back。 We must do Andy the justice to say that he never realized
that he was endangering Tom's life。 The bully had no idea the tank was
airtight when he closed it。 He had seen Tom enter and a sudden whim
came to him to revenge himself。
But that did not help the young inventor any。 There was no doubt
about it nowthe air was becoming close。 Tom had been imprisoned
nearly two hours； and as he was a healthy； strong lad； he required plenty of
oxygen。 There was certainly less than there had been in the tank。 His head
began to buzz； and there was a ringing in his ears。
Once more he fell upon his knees； and his fingers sought the small
projections of the gear on the inside of the door He could no more budge
the mechanism than a child could open a burglar…proof vault。
〃It's no use；〃 he moaned； and he sprawled at full length on the floor of
the tank； for there the air was purer。 As he did so his fingers touched
something。 He started as they closed around the handle of a big monkey
wrench。 It was one he had brought into the place with him。 Imbued with
new hope be struck a match and lighted his lantern； which he had allowed
to go out as it burned up too much of the oxygen。 By the gleam of it he
looked to see if there were any bolts or nuts he could loosen with the
wrench； in order to slide the door back。 It needed but a glance to show him
the futility of this。
〃It's no go；〃 he murmured； and he let the wrench fall to the floor。 There
was a ringing； clanging sound； and as it smote his ears Tom sprang up with
an exclamation。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
〃That's the thing！〃 he cried。 〃I wonder I didn't think of it before。 I can
signal for help by pounding on the sides of the tank with the wrench。 The
blows will carry a good deal farther than my voice would。〃 Every one
knows how far the noise of a boiler shop； with hammers falling on steel
plates； can be heard； much farther than can a human voice。
Tom began a lusty tattoo on the metal sides of the tank。 At first he
merely rattled out blow after blow； and then； as another thought came to
him； he adopted a certain plan。 Some time previous； when he and Mr。
Sharp had planned their trip in the air； the two had adopted a code of
signals。 As it was difficult in a high wind to shout from one end of the
airship to the other； the young inventor would sometimes pound on the
pipe which ran from the pilot house of the Red Cloud to the engine…room。
By a combination of numbers； simple messages could be conveyed。 The
code included a call for help。 Forty…seven was the number； but there had
never been any occasion to use it。
Tom remembered this now。 At once he ceased his indiscriminate
hammering； and began to beat out regularly one； two； three； fourthen a
pause； and seven blows would be given。 Over and over again he rang out
this numberforty seventhe call for help。
〃If Mr。 Sharp only comes back he will hear that； even in the house；〃
thought poor Tom 〃Maybe Garret or Mrs。 Baggert will hear it； too； but
they won't know what it means。 They'll think I'm just working on the
submarine。〃
It seemed several hours to Tom that he pounded out that cry for aid；
but； as he afterward learned； it was only a little over an hour。 Signal after
signal he sent vibrating from the steel sides of the tank。 When one arm
tired he would use the other。 He grew weary； his head was aching； and
there was a ringing in his ears； a ringing that seemed as if ten thousand
bells were jangling out their peals； and he could barely distinguish his own
pounding。
Signal after signal he sounded。 It was becoming like a dream to him；
when suddenly； as he paused for a rest； he heard his name called faintly； as
if far away。
〃Tom！ Tom！ Where are you？〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
It was the voice of Mr。 Sharp。 Then followed the tones of the aged
inventor。
〃My poor boy！ Tom； are you still alive？〃
〃Yes； dad！ In the starboard tank！〃 the lad gasped out； and then he lost
his senses。 When he revived he was lying on a pile of bagging in the
submarine shop； and his father and the aeronaut were bending over him。
〃Are you all right； Tom？〃 asked Mr。 Swift。
〃YesII guess so；〃 was the hesitating answer。 〃Yes；〃 the lad added；
as the fresh air cleared his head。 〃I'll be all right pretty soon。 Have you
seen Andy Foger？〃
〃Did he shut you in there？〃 demanded Mr。 Swift。
Tom nodded。
〃I'll have him arrested！〃 declared Mr。 Swift 〃I'll go to town as soon as
you're in good shape again and notify the police。〃
〃No； don't；〃 pleaded Tom。 〃I'll take care of Andy myself。 I don't really
believe he knew how serious it was。 I'll settle with him later； though。〃
〃Well； it came mighty near being serious；〃 remarked Mr。 Sharp grimly。
〃Your father and I came back a little sooner than we expected； and as soon
as I got near the house I heard your signal。 I knew what it was in a
moment。 There were Mrs。 Baggert and Garret talking away； and when I
asked them why they didn't answer your call they said they thought you
were merely tinkering with the machinery。 But I knew better。 It's the first
time we ever had a use for 'forty… seven；' Tom。〃
〃And I hope it will be the last；〃 replied the young inventor with a faint
smile。 〃But I'd like to know what Andy Foger is doing in this
neighborhood。〃
Tom was soon himself again and able to go to the house； where he
found Mrs。 Baggert brewing a big basin of catnip tea； under the
impression that it would in some way be good for his。 She could not
forgive herself for not having answered his signal； and as for Mr。 Jackson；
he had started for a doctor as soon as he learned that Tom was shut up in
the tank。 The services of the medical man were canceled by telephone； as
there was no need for him； and the engineer came back to the house。
Tom was fully himself the next day； and aided his father and Mr。 Sharp
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
in putting the finishing touches to the Advance。 It was found that some
alteration was required in the auxiliary propellers； and this； much to the
regret of the young inventor； would necessitate postponing the trial a few
days。
〃But we'll have her in the water next Friday。〃 promised Mr。 Swift。
〃Aren't you superstitious about Friday？〃 asked the balloonist。
〃Not a bit of it；〃 replied the aged inventor。 〃Tom；〃 he added； 〃I wish
you would go in the house and get me the roll of blueprints you'll find on
my desk。〃
As the lad neared the cottage he saw； standing in front of the place； a
small automobile。 A man had just descended from it； and it needed but a
glance to show that he was Mr。 Addison Berg。
〃Ah； good morning； Mr。 Swift；〃 greeted Mr。 Berg。 〃I wish to see your
father； but as I don't wish to lay myself open to suspicions by entering the
shop； perhaps you will ask him to step here。〃
