TOM 
 
 V 
 
 AND HIS 
 
 SUBMARINE 
 BOAT 
 
 VICTOR 
 APPLETON 
 
University of California Berkeley 
 
 DONALD SIDNEY-FRYER 
 COLLECTION 
 
TOM SAW THE FORM OF A GREAT SHARK LAUNCHED AT 
 CAPTAIN WESTON. 
 
 Tom Swift and His Submarine Boat Page 200 
 
TOM SWIFT AND HIS 
 SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 OR 
 Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure 
 
 BY 
 VICTOR APPLETON 
 
 ACTHOE 01 "xou swirr AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE," "TOM 
 
 MOTOE-BOAT," ETC. 
 
 ILLUSTRATED 
 
 NEW YORK 
 GROSSET & DUNLAP 
 
 PUBLISHERS 
 
 Made in the United States of America 
 
BOOKS BY VICTOR APPLETON 
 
 THE TOM SWIFT SERIES 
 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE 
 
 Or Fun and Adventure on the Road 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT 
 
 Or the Rivals of Lake Carlopa 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP 
 
 Or the Stirring Cruise of the Red Cloud 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 Or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT 
 
 Or the Speediest Car on the Road 
 
 v Other Volumes in preparation) 
 
 GROSSET & DUNLAP 
 
 PUBLISHERS NEW YORK 
 
 COPYRIGHT, 1910, BY 
 GROSSET & DUNLAP 
 
 Tom S-wift and Hi* Submarine Boat 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 I NEWS OF A TREASURE WRECK I 
 
 II FINISHING THE SUBMARINE 12 
 
 III MR. BERG Is ASTONISHED 23 
 
 IV TOM Is IMPRISONED 29 
 
 V MR. BERG Is SUSPICIOUS 40 
 
 VI TURNING THE TABLES 53 
 
 VII MR. DAMON WILL Go 64 
 
 iVIII ANOTHER TREASURE EXPEDITION 72 
 
 IX CAPTAIN WESTON'S ADVENT 78 
 
 X TRIAL OF THE SUBMARINE. . .. 87 
 
 XI ON THE OCEAN BED 97 
 
 XII FOR A BREATH OF AIR 105 
 
 XIII OFF FOR THE TREASURE 114 
 
 XIV IN THE DIVING SUITS 122 
 
 XV AT THE TROPICAL ISLAND 129 
 
 XVI "WE'LL RACE You FOR IT !" 134 
 
 XVII THE RACE 140 
 
 XVIII THE ELECTRIC GUN 149 
 
 XIX CAPTURED 156 
 
 XX DOOMED TO DEATH 16* 
 
 iii 
 
iv CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER PAGB 
 
 XXI THE ESCAPE 175 
 
 XXII AT THE WRECK 190 
 
 XXIII ATTACKED BY SHARKS 197 
 
 XXIV RAMMING THE WRECK 205 
 
 XXV HOME WITH THE GOLD. . 210 
 
TOM SWIFT AND HIS 
 SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 NEWS OF A TREASURE WRECK 
 
 THERE was a rushing, whizzing, throbbing 
 noise in the air. A great body, like that of some 
 immense bird, sailed along, casting a grotesque 
 shadow on the ground below. An elderly man, 
 who was seated on the porch of a large house, 
 started to his feet in alarm. 
 
 "Gracious goodness! What was that, Mrs. 
 Baggert ?" he called to a motherly-looking woman 
 who stood in the doorway. "What happened?" 
 
 "Nothing much, Mr. Swift," was the calm re- 
 ply. "I think that was Tom and Mr. Sharp in 
 their airship, that's all. I didn't see it, but the 
 noise sounded like that of the Red Cloud." 
 
 "Of course! To be sure!" exclaimed Mr. 
 Barton Swift, the well-known inventor, as he 
 
2 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 started down the path in order to get a good view 
 of the air, unobstructed by the trees. "Yes, there 
 they are," he added. "That's the airship, but I 
 didn't expect them back so soon. They must 
 have made good time from Shopton. I wonder 
 if anything can be the matter that they hurried 
 so?" 
 
 He gazed aloft toward where a queerly-shaped 
 machine was circling about nearly five hundred 
 feet in the air, for the craft, after swooping down 
 close to the house, had ascended and was now 
 hovering just above the line of breakers that 
 marked the New Jersey seacoast, where Mr. Swift 
 had taken up a temporary residence. 
 
 "Don't begin worrying, Mr. Swift," advised 
 Mrs. Baggert, the housekeeper. "You've got too 
 much to do, if you get that new boat done, to 
 worry." 
 
 "That's so. I must not worry. But I wish 
 Tom and Mr. Sharp would land, for I want to 
 talk to them." 
 
 As if the occupants of the airship had heard 
 f he words of the aged inventor, they headed their 
 craft toward earth. The combined aeroplane and 
 dirigible balloon, a most wonderful traveler of 
 the air, swung around, and then, with the deflec- 
 tion rudders slanted downward, came on with a 
 rush. When near the landing place, just at the 
 
NEWS OF A TREASURE WRECK 3 
 
 side of the house, the motor was stopped, and the 
 gas, with a hissing noise, rushed into the red 
 aluminum container. This immediately made the 
 ship more buoyant and it landed almost as gently 
 as a feather. 
 
 No sooner had the wheels which formed the 
 lower part of the craft touched the ground than 
 there leaped from the cabin of the Red Cloud a 
 young man. 
 
 "Well, dad!" he exclaimed. "Here we are 
 again, safe and sound. Made a record, too. 
 Touched ninety miles an hour at times didn't we, 
 Mr. Sharp?" 
 
 "That's what," agreed a tall, thin, dark-com- 
 plexioned man, who followed Tom Swift more 
 leisurely in his exit from the cabin. Mr. Sharp, 
 a veteran aeronaut, stopped to fasten guy ropes 
 from the airship to strong stakes driven into 
 the ground. 
 
 "And we'd have done better, only we struck a 
 hard wind against us about two miles up in the 
 air, which delayed us," went on Tom. "Did you 
 hear us coming, dad ?" 
 
 "Yes, and it startled him," put in Mrs. Bag- 
 gert "I guess he wasn't expecting you." 
 
 "Oh, well, I shouldn't have been so alarmed, 
 only I was thinking deeply about a certain change 
 I am going to make in the submarine, Tom. I 
 
4 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 was day-dreaming, I think, when your ship 
 whizzed through the air. But tell me, did you 
 find everything all right at Shopton? No signs 
 ( of any of those scoundrels of the Happy Harry 
 gang having been around?" and Mr. Swift looked 
 anxiously at his son. 
 
 "Not a sign, dad," replied Tom quickly. 
 "Everything was all right. We brought the 
 things you wanted. They're in the airship. Oh, 
 but it was a fine trip. I'd like to take another 
 right out to sea." 
 
 "Not now, Tom," said his father. "I want you 
 to help me. And I need Mr. Sharp's help, too. 
 Get the things out of the car, and we'll go to the 
 shop." 
 
 "First I think we'd better put the airship 
 away," advised Mr. Sharp. "I don't just like 
 the looks of the weather, and, besides, if we leave 
 the ship exposed we'll be sure to have a crowd 
 around sooner or later, and we don't want that." 
 
 "No, indeed," remarked the aged inventor 
 hastily. "I don't want people prying around the 
 submarine shed. By all means put the airship 
 away, and then come into the shop." 
 
 In spite of its great size the aeroplane was 
 easily wheeled along by Tom and Mr. Sharp, 
 for the gas in the container made it so buoyant 
 that it barely touched the earth. A little more 
 
NEWS OF A TREASURE WRECK g 
 
 of the powerful vapor and the Red Cloud would 
 have risen by itself. In a few minutes the won- 
 derful craft, of which my readers have been told 
 in detail in a previous volume, was safely housed 
 in a large tent, which was securely fastened. 
 
 Mr. Sharp and Tom, carrying some bundles 
 which they had taken from the car, or cabin, of 
 the craft, went toward a large shed, which ad- 
 joined the house that Mr. Swift had hired for 
 the season at the seashore. They found the lad's 
 father standing before a great shape, which 
 loomed up dimly in the semi-darkness of the build- 
 ing. It was like an immense cylinder, pointed 
 at either end, and here and there were openings, 
 covered with thick glass, like immense, bulging 
 eyes. From the number of tools and machinery 
 all about the place, and from the appearance of 
 the great cylinder itself, it was easy to see that 
 it was only partly completed. 
 
 "Well, how goes it, dad?" asked the youth, as 
 he deposited his bundle on a bench. "Do you 
 think you can make it work ?" 
 
 "I think so, Tom. The positive and negative 
 plates are giving me considerable trouble, though. 
 But I guess we can solve the problem. Did you 
 bring me the galvanometer?" 
 
 "Yes, and all the other things," and the young 
 
6 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 inventor proceeded to take the articles from the 
 bundles he carried. 
 
 Mr. Swift looked them over carefully, while 
 Tom walked about examining the submarine, for 
 such was the queer craft that was contained in 
 the shed. He noted that some progress had been 
 made on it since he had left the seacoast several 
 days before to make a trip to Shopton, in New 
 York State, where the Swift home was located, 
 after some tools and apparatus that his father 
 wanted to obtain from his workshop there. 
 
 "You and Mr. Jackson have put on several 
 new plates," observed the lad after a pause. 
 
 "Yes," admitted his father. "Garret and I 
 weren't idle, were we, Garret?" and he nodded 
 to the aged engineer, who had been in his employ 
 for many years. 
 
 "No; and I guess we'll soon have her in the 
 water, Tom, now that you and Mr. Sharp are 
 here to help us," replied Garret Jackson. 
 
 "We ought to have Mr. Damon here to bless 
 the submarine and his liver and collar buttons a 
 few times," put in Mr. Sharp, who brought in 
 another bundle. He referred to an eccentric in- 
 dividual who had recently made an airship voy- 
 age with himself and Tom, Mr. Damon's pecul- 
 iarity being to use continually such expressions 
 as : "Bless my soul ! Bless rny liver !" 
 
NEWS OF A TREASURE WRECK f 
 
 "Well, I'll be glad when we can make a trial 
 trip," went on Tom. "I've traveled pretty fast 
 on land with my motor-cycle, and we certainly 
 have hummed through the air. Now I want to 
 see how it feels to scoot along under water." 
 
 "Well, if everything goes well we'll be in a po- 
 sition to make a trial trip inside of a month/' 
 remarked the aged inventor. "Look here, Mr. 
 Sharp, I made a change in the steering gear, 
 which I'd like you and Tom to consider." 
 
 The three walked around to the rear of the 
 odd-looking structure, if an object shaped like 
 a cigar can be said to have a front and rear, and 
 the inventor, his son, and the aeronaut were soon 
 deep in a discussion of the technicalities connected 
 with under-water navigation. 
 
 A little later they went into the house, in re- 
 sponse to a summons from the supper bell, vigor- 
 ously rung by Mrs. Baggert. She was not fond 
 of waiting with meals, and even the most serious 
 problem of mechanics was, in her estimation, as 
 nothing compared with having the soup get cold, 
 or the possibility of not having the meat done to 
 a turn. 
 
 The meal was interspersed with remarks about 
 the recent airship flight of Tom and Mr. Sharp, 
 and discussions about the new submarine. This 
 talk went on even after the table was cleared off/ 
 
8 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 and the three had adjourned to the sitting-room. 
 There Mr. Swift brought out pencil and paper, 
 and soon he and Mr. Sharp were engrossed in 
 calculating the pressure per square inch of sea, 
 water at a depth of three miles. 
 
 "Do you intend to go as deep as that?" asked' 
 ?Tom, looking up from a paper he was reading. 
 
 "Possibly/' replied his father; and his son re- 
 sumed his perusal of the sheet. 
 
 "Now," went on the inventor to the aeronaut, 
 "I have another plan. In addition to the positive 
 and negative plates which will form our motive 
 power, I am going to install forward and aft 
 propellers, to use in case of accident " 
 
 "I say, dad ! Did you see this ?" suddenly ex- 
 claimed Tom, getting up from his chair, and 
 holding his finger on a certain place in the page 
 of the paper. 
 
 "Did I see what?" asked Mr. Swift. 
 
 "Why, this account of the sinking of the 
 treasure ship." 
 
 "Treasure ship? No. Where?" 
 
 "Listen," went on Tom. "I'll read it : 'Fur- 
 ther advices from Montevideo, Uruguay, SoutH 
 America, state that all hope has been given up 
 of recovering the steamship Boldero, which foun* 
 dered and went down off that coast in the recent 
 gale. Not only has all hope been abandoned oi 
 
NEWS OF A TREASURE WRECK 9 
 
 raising the vessel, but it is feared that no part 
 of the three hundred thousand dollars in gold 
 bullion which she carried will ever be recovered. 
 Expert divers who were taken to the scene of the 
 wreck state that the depth of water, and the many 
 currents existing there, due to a submerged shoal, 
 preclude any possibility of getting at the hull. The 
 bullion, it is believed, was to have been used to 
 further the interests of a certain revolutionary 
 faction, but it seems likely that they will have to 
 k>ok elsewhere for the sinews of war. Besides 
 the bullion the ship also carried several cases of 
 rifles, it is stated, and other valuable cargo. The 
 crew and what few passengers the Boldero car- 
 ried were, contrary to the first reports, all saved 
 by taking to the boats. It appears that some of 
 the ship's plates were sprung by the stress in 
 which she labored in a storm, and she filled and 
 sank gradually/ There! what do you think of 
 that, dad?" cried Tom as he finished. 
 
 "What do I think of it? Why, I think it's too 
 t>ad for the revolutionists, Tom, of course." 
 
 "No; I mean about the treasure being still 
 on board the ship. What about that?" 
 
 "Well, it's likely to stay there, if the divers 
 <can't get at it. Now, Mr. Sharp, about the pro- 
 pellers " 
 
 "Wait, dad !" cried Tom earnestly. 
 
10 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 "Why, Tom, what's the matter?" asked Mr. 
 Swift in some surprise. 
 
 "How soon before we can finish our sub* 
 marine?" went on Tom, not answering th 
 question. 
 
 "About a month. Why?" 
 
 "Why ? Dad, why can't we have a try for that 
 treasure? It ought to be comparatively easy to 
 find that sunken ship off the coast of Uruguay. 
 In our submarine we can get close up to it, and 
 in the new diving suits you invented we can get 
 at that gold bullion. Three hundred thousand 
 dollars ! Think of it, dad ! Three hundred thou- 
 sand dollars! We could easily claim all of it, 
 since the owners have abandoned it, but we would 
 be satisfied with half. Let's hurry up, finish the 
 submarine, and have a try for it." 
 
 "But, Tom, you forget that I am to enter my 
 new ship in the trials for the prize offered by the 
 United States Government." 
 
 "How much is the prize if you win it?" asked 
 Tom. 
 
 "Fifty thousand dollars." 
 
 "Well, here's a chance to make three times that 
 much at least, and maybe more. Dad, let th 
 Government prize go, and try for the treasure. 
 Will you?" 
 
 Tom looked eagerly at his father, his eyes shin- 
 
NEWS OF A TREASURE WRECK. If 
 
 ing with anticipation. Mr. Swift was not a quick 
 thinker, but the idea his son had proposed made 
 an impression on him. He reached out his hand 
 for the paper in which the young inventor had 
 seen the account of the sunken treasure. Slowly 
 he read it through. Then he passed it to Mr, 
 Sharp. 
 
 "What do you think of it?" he asked of the 
 aeronaut. 
 
 "There's a possibility," remarked the balloon- 
 ist. "We might try for it. We can easily go 
 three miles down, and it doesn't lie as deeply as 
 that, if this account is true. Yes, we might try 
 for it. But we'd have to omit the Government 
 contests." 
 
 "Will you, dad?" asked Tom again. 
 
 Mr. Swift considered a moment longer. 
 
 "Yes, Tom, I will," he finally decided. "Going 
 after the treasure will be likely to afford us a 
 better test of the submarine than would any Gov- 
 ernment tests. We'll try to locate the sunken 
 Boldero." 
 
 "Hurrah !" cried the lad, taking the papei from 
 Mr. Sharp and waving it in the air. "That's the 
 stuff! Now for a search for the submarine 
 treasure !" 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
 FINISHING THE SUBMARINE 
 
 "WHAT'S the matter?" cried Mrs. Baggert, tlie 
 housekeeper, hurrying in from the kitchen, where 
 she was washing the dishes. "Have you seen 
 some of those scoundrels who robbed you, Mr. 
 Swift? If you have, the police down here ought 
 
 "No, it's nothing like that," explained Mr. 
 Swift. "Tom has merely discovered in the paper 
 an account of a sunken treasure ship, and he 
 wants us to go after it, down under the ocean." 
 
 "Oh, dear ! Some more of Captain Kidd's hid- 
 den hoard, I suppose ?" ventured the housekeeper. 
 "Don't you bother with it, Mr. Swift. I had a 
 cousin once, and he got set in the notion that he 
 knew where that pirate's treasure was. He spent 
 all the money he had and all he could borrow 
 digging for it, and he never found a penny. Don't 
 waste your time on such foolishness. It's bad 
 enough to be building airships and submarines, 
 
 12 
 
FINISHING THE SUBMARINE 13 
 
 without going after treasure." Mrs. Baggert 
 spoke with the freedom of an old friend rather 
 than a hired housekeeper, but she had been in 
 the family ever since Tom's mother died, when he 
 was a baby, and she had many privileges. 
 
 "Oh, this isn't any of Kidd's treasure," Tom 
 assured her. "If we get it, Mrs. Baggert, I'll 
 buy you a diamond ring." 
 
 "Humph!" she exclaimed, as Tom began to 
 hug her in boyish fashion. "I guess /'// have to 
 buy all the diamond rings I want, if I have to 
 depend on your treasure for them," and she went 
 back to the kitchen. 
 
 "Well," went on Mr. Swift after a pause, "if 
 we are going into the treasure-hunting business, 
 Tom, we'll have to get right to work. In the 
 first place, we must find out more about this ship, 
 and just where it was sunk." 
 
 "I can do that part," said Mr. Sharp. "I know 
 some sea captains, and they can put me on the 
 track of locating the exact spot. In fact, it might 
 not be a bad idea to take an expert navigator 
 with us. I can manage in the air all right, but 
 I confess that working out a location under water 
 is beyond me." 
 
 "Yes, an old sea captain wouldn't be a bad 
 idea, by any means," conceded Mr. Swift. "Well 
 if you'll attend to that detail, Mr. Sharp, Ton*, 
 
14 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 Mr. Jackson and I will finish the submarine. Most 
 of the work is done, however, and it only remains 
 to install the engine and motors. Now, in regard 
 to the negative and positive electric plates, I'd 
 like your opinion, Tom." 
 
 For Tom Swift was an inventor, second in 
 ability only to his father, and his advice was often 
 sought by his parent on matters of electrical con- 
 struction, for the lad had made a specialty of 
 that branch of science. 
 
 While father and son were deep in a discus- 
 sion of the apparatus of the submarine, there will 
 be an opportunity to make the reader a little bet- 
 ter acquainted with them. Those of you who 
 have read the previous volumes of this series do 
 not need to be told who Tom Swift is. Others, 
 however, may be glad to have a proper intro- 
 duction to him. 
 
 Tom Swift lived with his father, Barton Swift, 
 in the village of Shopton, New York. The Swift 
 home was on the outskirts of the town, and the 
 large house was surrounded by a number of ma- 
 chine shops, in which father and son, aided by 
 Garret Jackson, the engineer, did their experi- 
 mental and constructive work. Their house was 
 not far from Lake Carlopa, a fairly large body of 
 water, on which Tom often speeded his motor- 
 feoat 
 
FINISHING THE SUBMARINE 13 
 
 In the first volume of this series, entitled "Tom 
 Swift and His Motor-Cycle/' it was told how he 
 became acquainted with Mr. Wakefield Damon, 
 who suffered an accident while riding one of the 
 speedy machines. The accident disgusted Mr. 
 Damon with motor-cycles, and Tom secured it 
 for a low price. He had many adventures on it, 
 chief among which was being knocked senseless 
 and robbed of a valuable patent model belonging 
 to his father, which he was taking to Albany. The 
 attack was committed by a gang known as the 
 Happy Harry gang, who were acting at the in- 
 stigation of a syndicate of rich men, who wanted 
 to secure control of a certain patent turbine engine 
 which Mr. Swift had invented. 
 
 Tom set out in pursuit of the thieves, after 
 recovering from their attack, and had a strenuous 
 time before he located them. 
 
 In the second volume, entitled "Tom Swift and 
 His Motor-Boat/' there was related our hero's 
 adventures in a fine craft which was recovered 
 from the thieves and sold at auction. There was 
 a mystery connected with the boat, and for a 
 long time Tom could not solve it. He was aided, 
 however, by his chum, Ned Newton, who worked 
 in the Shop ton Bank, and also by Mr. Damon and 
 Eradicate Sampson, an aged colored whitewasher, 
 who formed quite an attachment for Tom. 
 
16 TOM SWIFT 'AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 In his motor-boat Tom had more than one 
 race with Andy Foger, a rich lad of Shopton, who 
 was a sort of bully. He had red hair and squinty 
 eyes, and was as mean in character as he was in 
 looks. He and his cronies, Sam Snedecker and 
 Pete Bailey, made trouble for Tom, chiefly be- 
 cause Tom managed to beat Andy twice in boat 
 races. 
 
 It was while in his motor-boat, "Arrow, that 
 iTom formed the acquaintance of John Sharp, a 
 veteran balloonist. While coming down Lake 
 Carlopa on the way to the Swift home, whicK 
 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 an3 
 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 coo- 
 
FINISHING THE SUBMARINE fy 
 
 siderable 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 thou- 
 sand 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. War- 
 rants 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. 
 
18 TOM SWIFY AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 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 suc- 
 cessful 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 plan- 
 ning 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 
 
FINISHING THE SUBMARINE ig 
 
 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 over-* 
 land from Shopton. So, before the keel was* 
 laid, Mr. Swift rented a large cottage at a se- 
 cluded place on the New Jersey coast and there, 
 after erecting a large shed, the work on the 
 Advance, as the tinder-water ship was called, was 
 begun. 
 
 It was soon to be launched in a large creek 
 that extended in from the 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 move** 
 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 
 iiiscusstd various matters. 
 
 "We'll hurry work on the ship," said Mr. Swift 
 at 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* 
 
SO TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 "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 sup- 
 plies 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 " 
 
 He paused suddenly, and appeared to be lis- 
 tening. 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 
 
FINISHING THE SUBMARINE 21 
 
 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. 
 
 "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 back 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, 
 1 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." 
 
22 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 "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?" 
 
 "I I suppose so," assented Mr. Swift nerv* 
 ously. "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 t<5 
 keep my eyes open." 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 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 hap- 
 pened to stumble over a board " 
 
 "And I heard you," interrupted Tom. 
 
 "Is this one of your employes ?" asked Mr. Berg 
 in rather frigid tones. 
 
 "That is my son," replied Mr. Swift 
 23 
 
24 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 "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 bark 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 sup- 
 pose Tom thought it was some of them sneaking 
 around again." 
 
 "That's what I did," added the lad. "I wasn't 
 going to have any one steal the secret of the 
 submarine if I could help it." 
 
 "Quite right! Quite right!" exclaimed Mr. 
 Berg. "But my purpose was an open one. As 
 you know, Mr. Swift, I represent the firm oi 
 Bentley & Eagert, builders of submarine boats and 
 torpedoes. They heard that you were construct- 
 ing a craft to take part in the competitive prize 
 tests of the United States Government, and they 
 asked me to come and see you to learn when your 
 ship would be ready. Ours is completed, but we 
 recognize that it will be for the best interests of 
 all concerned if there are a number of contestants, 
 and my firm did not want to send in their entry 
 until they knew that you were about finished with 
 your ship. How about it? Are you ready to 
 compete?" 
 
 "Yes," said Mr. Swift slowly. "We are about 
 
MR. BERG IS ASTONISHED 2$ 
 
 ready. My craft needs a few finishing touches, 
 and then it will be ready to launch." 
 
 "Then we may expect a good contest on your 
 part," suggested Mr. Berg. 
 
 "Well," began the aged inventor, "I don't know 
 about that." 
 
 "What's that?" exclaimed Mr. Berg. 
 
 "I said I wasn't quite sure that we would com- 
 pete," went on Mr. Swift. "You see, when I 
 first got this idea for a submarine boat I had it 
 in mind to try for the Government prize of fifty 
 thousand Collars." 
 
 "That's what we want, too," interrupted Mr. 
 'Berg with a smile. 
 
 "But," went on Tom's father, "since then cer- 
 tain matters have come up, and I think, on the 
 Whole, that we'll not compete for the prize after 
 all." 
 
 "Not compete for the prize?" almost shouted 
 the agent for Bentley & Eagert. "Why, the idea ! 
 You ought to compete. It is good for the trade. 
 We think we have a very fine craft, and probably 
 we would beat you in the tests, but " 
 
 "I wouldn't be too sure of that," put in Tom. 
 "You have only seen the outside of our boat. The 
 inside is better yet." 
 
 "Ah, I have no doubt of that," spoke Mr. Berg, 
 "but we have been at the business longer thac 
 
2 6 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT * 
 
 you have, and have had more experience. Still 
 we welcome competition. But I am very much 
 surprised that you are not going to compete for 
 the prize, Mr. Swift. Very much surprised, in- 
 deed! You see, I came down from Philadelphia 
 to arrange so that we could both enter our ships 
 at the same time. I understand there is another 
 firm of submarine boat builders who are going 
 to try for the prize, and I want to arrange a 
 date that will be satisfactory to all. I am greatly 
 astonished that you are not going to compete." 
 
 "Well, we were going to," said Mr. Swift, 
 "only we have changed our minds, that's all. My 
 son and I have other plans." 
 
 "May I ask what they are?" questioned Mr. 
 Berg. 
 
 "You may," exclaimed Tom quickly; "but I 
 clon't believe we can tell you. They're a secret/* 
 he added more cordially. 
 
 "Oh, I see," retorted Mr. Berg. "Well, of 
 course I don't wish to penetrate any of your 
 secrets, but I hoped we could contest together for 
 the Government prize. It is worth trying for, 
 I assure you fifty thousand dollars. Besides^ 
 there is the possibility of selling a number ol 
 submarines to the United States. It's a fine 
 prize." 
 
 "But the one we are after is a bigger one," cried 
 
MR. BERG IS ASTONISHED 27 
 
 ITom impetuously, and the moment he had spoken 
 lie wished he could recall the words. 
 
 "Eh? What's that?" exclaimed Mr. Berg, 
 **You don't mean to say another government has 
 offered a larger prize? If I had known that I 
 Would not have let my firm enter into the compe- 
 tition for the bonus offered by the United States, 
 Please tell me " 
 
 "I'm sorry," went on Tom more soberly. "I 
 Shouldn't have spoken. Mr. Berg, the plans of 
 my father and myself are such that we can't reveal 
 them now. We are going to try for a prize, but 
 not in competition with you. It's an entirely 
 different matter." 
 
 "Well, I guess you'll find that the firm of 
 Bentley & Eagert are capable of trying for any 
 prizes that are offered," boasted the agent "We 
 may be competitors yet." 
 
 "I don't believe so," replied Mr. Swift. 
 
 "We may," repeated Mr. Berg. "And if we 
 do, please remember that we will show no mercy. 
 Our boats are the best." 
 
 "And may the best boat win," interjected Mr. 
 Sharp. "That's all we ask. A fair field and no 
 favors." 
 
 "Of course," spoke the agent coldly. "Is this 
 another son of yours?" he asked. 
 
 "No, but a p-ood friend," replied the aged in- 
 
28 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 ventor. "No, Mr. Berg, we won't compete this 
 time. You may tell your firm so." 
 
 "Very good," was the other's stiff reply. "Then 
 I will bid you good night. We shall carry off the 
 Government prize, but permit me to add that I 
 am very much astonished, very much indeed, that 
 you do not try for the prize. From what I hav$ 
 seen of your submarine you have a very good 
 one, almost as good, in some respects, as ours. 
 I bid you good night," and with a bow the mafi 
 left the room and hurried away from the house* 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 TOM IS IMPRISONED 
 
 "WELL, I must say he's a cool one/' remarked 
 Tom, as the echoes of Mr. Berg's steps died 
 away. "The idea of thinking his boat better than 
 ours ! I don't like that man, dad. I'm suspicious 
 of him. Do you think he came here to steal 
 some of our ideas?" 
 
 "No, I hardly believe so, my son. But how 
 did you discover him ?" 
 
 "Just as you saw, dad. I heard a noise and 
 went back there to investigate. I found him 
 sneaking around, looking at the electric propeller 
 plates. I went to grab him just as he stumbled 
 over a board. At first I thought it was one of 
 the old gang. I'm almost sure he was trying to 
 discover something." 
 
 "No, Tom. The firm he works for are good 
 business men, and they would not countenance 
 anything like that They are heartless competi- 
 tors, however, and if they saw a legitimate charx** 
 
30 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 to get ahead of me and take advantage, they 
 would do it. But they would not sneak in to 
 steal my ideas. I feel sure of that. Besides, they 
 have a certain type of submarine which they 
 think is the best ever invented, and they would 
 hardly change at this late day. They feel sure 
 of winning the Government prize, and I'm just 
 as glad we're not going to have a contest." 
 "Do you think our boat is better than theirs?' 5 
 '"Much better, in many respects." 
 "I don't like that man Berg, though," wem 
 on Tom. 
 
 "Nor do I," added his father. "There is some- 
 thing strange about him. He was very anxious 
 that I should compete. Probably he thought his 
 firm's boat would go so far ahead of ours that 
 they would get an extra bonus. But I'm glad 
 he didn't see our new method of propulsion. That 
 is the principal improvement in the Advance over 
 other types of submarines. Well, another week 
 and we will be ready for the test." 
 
 "Have you known Mr. Berg long, dad?" 
 "Not very. I met him in Washington when I 
 was in the patent office. He was taking out papers 
 on a submarine for his firm at the same time I 
 got mine for the Advance. It is rather curious 
 that he should come all the way here from Phila- 
 delphia, merely to see if I was going to compete* 
 
TOM IS IMPRISONED 3$ 
 
 There is something strange about it, something 
 that I can't understand." 
 
 The time was to come when Mr. Swift and his 
 son were to get at the bottom of Mr. Berg's rea- 
 sons, and they learned to their sorrow that he 
 had penetrated some of their secrets. 
 
 Before going to bed that night Tom and Mr. 
 Sharp paid a visit to the shed where the sub- 
 marine was resting on the ways, ready for launch- 
 ing. They found Mr. Jackson on guard and the 
 engineer said that no one had been around. Nor 
 was anything found disturbed. 
 
 "It certainly is a great machine," remarked the 
 lad as he looked up at the cigar-shaped bulk tow- 
 ering over his head. "Dad has outdone himself 
 this trip." 
 
 "It looks all right," commented Mr. Sharp, 
 "Whether it will work is another question." 
 
 "Yes, we can't tell until it's in the water," con- 
 ceded Tom. "But I hope it does. Dad ha? 
 spent much time and money on it." 
 
 The Advance was, as her name indicated, much 
 in advance of previous submarines. There was 
 not so much difference in outward construction 
 as there was in the means of propulsion and in 
 the manner in which the interior and the ma- 
 chinery were arranged. 
 
 The submarine planned by Mr. Swift and TO.IU 
 
3$ TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 jointly, and constructed by them, with the aid of 
 Mr. Sharp and Mr. Jackson, was shaped like a 
 cigar, over one hundred feet long and twenty 
 feet in diameter at the thickest part. It was 
 divided into many compartments, all water-tight, 
 so that if one or even three were flooded the ship 
 would still be useable. 
 
 Buoyancy was provided for by having several 
 tanks for the introduction of compressed air, and 
 there was an emergency arrangement so that a 
 collapsible aluminum container could be distended 
 and filled with a powerful gas. This was to be 
 used if, by any means, the ship was disabled on 
 the bottom of the ocean. The container could 
 be expanded and filled, and would send the 
 'Advance to the surface. 
 
 Another peculiar feature was that the engine- 
 room, dynamos and other appartus were all con- 
 tained amidships. This gave stability to the craft, 
 and also enabled the same engine to operate both 
 shafts and propellers, as well as both the negative 
 forward electrical plates, and the positive rear 
 tnes. 
 
 These plates were a new idea in submarine 
 construction, and were the outcome of an idea of 
 Mr. Swift, with some suggestions from his son. 
 
 The aged inventor did not want to depend on 
 the usual screw propellers for his craft, npr did 
 
TOM IS IMPRISONED 33 
 
 lie want to use a jet of compressed air, shooting 
 out from a rear tube, nor yet a jet of water, by 
 means of which the creature called the squid 
 shoots himself along. Mr. Swift planned to send 
 the Advance along under water by means of elec- 
 tricity. 
 
 Certain peculiar plates were built at the for- 
 ward and aft blunt noses of the submarine. Into 
 the forward plate a negative charge of electricity 
 was sent, and into the one at the rear a positive 
 charge, just as one end of a horseshoe magnet is 
 positive and will repel the north end of a com- 
 pass needle, while the other pole of a magnet is 
 negative and will attract it. In electricity like 
 repels like, while negative and positive have a 
 mutual attraction for each other. 
 
 Mr. Swift figured out that if he could send a 
 powerful current of negative electricity into the 
 forward plate it would pull the boat along, for 
 water is a good conductor of electricity, while 
 if a positive charge was sent into the rear plate 
 it would serve to push the submarine along, and 
 he would thus get a pulling and pushing motion, 
 just as a forward and aft propeller works on 
 some ferry boats. 
 
 But the inventor did not depend on these plates 
 alone. There were auxiliary forward and aft 
 propellers of the regular type, so that if the 
 
34 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 electrical plates did not work, or got out of order, 
 the screws would serve to send the Advance along. 
 
 There was much machinery in the submarine. 
 There were gasolene motors, since space was too 
 cramped to allow the carrying of coal for boilers. 
 There were dynamos, motors and powerful pumps. 
 Some of these were for air, and some for water. 
 To sink the submarine below the surface large 
 tanks were filled with water. To insure a more 
 sudden descent, deflecting rudders were also used, 
 similar to those on an airship. There were also 
 special air pumps, and one for the powerful gas, 
 which was manufactured on board. 
 
 Forward from the engine-room was a cabin, 
 where meals could be served, and where the trav- 
 elers could remain in the daytime. There was 
 also a small cooking galley, or kitchen, there. 
 Back of the engine-room were the sleeping quar- 
 ters and the storerooms. The submarine was 
 steered from the forward compartment, and here 
 were also levers, wheels and valves that controlled 
 all the machinery, while a number of dials showed 
 in which direction they were going, how deep 
 they were, and at what speed they were moving, 
 as well as what the ocean pressure was. 
 
 On top, forward, was a small conning, or ob- 
 servation tower, with auxiliary and steering and 
 controlling apparatus there. This was to be used 
 
TOM IS IMPRISONED 3$ 
 
 when the ship was moving along on the surface 
 of the ocean, or merely with the deck awash. 
 There was a small flat deck surrounding the con- 
 ning tower, and this was available when the craft 
 was on the surface. 
 
 There was provision made for leaving the ship 
 when it was on the bed of the ocean. When it 
 was desired to do this the occupants put on diving 
 suits, which were provided with portable oxygen 
 tanks. Then they entered a chamber into which 
 water was admitted until it was equal in pressure 
 to that outside. Then a steel door was opened, 
 and they could step out. To re-enter the ship 
 the operation was reversed. This was not a new 
 feature. In fact, many submarines to-day use it 
 
 At certain places there w r ere thick bull's-eye 
 windows, by means of which the under-water 
 travelers could look out into the ocean through 
 which they were moving. As a defense against 
 the attacks of submarine monsters there was a 
 steel, pointed ram, like a big harpoon. There 
 were also a bow and a stern electrical gun, of 
 which more will be told later. 
 
 In addition to ample sleeping accommodations 
 there were many conveniences aboard the 
 Advance. Plenty of fresh water could be carried, 
 and there was an apparatus for distilling more 
 from the sea water that surrounded the travelers. 
 
6 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 Compressed air was carried in large tanks, and 
 oxygen could be made as needed. In short, noth- 
 ing that could add to the comfort or safety of 
 the travelers had been omitted. There was a 
 powerful crane and windlass, which had been in- 
 stalled when Mr. Swift thought his boat might 
 be bought by the Government This was to be 
 used for raising wrecks or recovering objects 
 from the bottom of the ocean. Ample stores and 
 provisions were to be carried and, once the trav- 
 elers were shut up in the Advance, they could 
 exist for a month below the surface, providing 
 no accident occurred. 
 
 All these things Tom and Mr. Sharp thought of 
 as they looked over the ship before turning in 
 for the night. The craft was made immensely 
 strong to withstand powerful pressure at the bot- 
 tom of the ocean. The submarine could pene- 
 trate to a depth of about three miles. Below that 
 it was dangerous to go, as the awful force would 
 crush the plates, powerful as they were. 
 
 "Well, we'll rush things to-morrow and the 
 next day," observed Tom as he prepared to leave 
 the building. "Then we'll soon see if it works/' 
 
 For the next week there were busy times in 
 the shop near the ocean. Great secrecy was main- 
 tained, and though curiosity seekers did stroll 
 adong now and then, they received little satis* 
 
TOM IS IMPRISONED & 
 
 faction. At first Mr. Swift thought that the 
 visit of Mr. Berg would have unpleasant results, 
 for he feared that the agent would talk about the 
 craft, of which he had so unexpectedly gotten a 
 sight. But nothing seemed to follow from his 
 chance inspection, and it was forgotten. 
 
 It was one evening, about a week later, that 
 Tom was alone in the shop. The two mechanics 
 that had been hired to help out in the rush had 
 been let go, and the ship needed but a few adjust- 
 ments to make it ready for the sea. 
 
 "I think I'll just take another look at the water 
 tank valves," said Tom to himself as he prepared 
 to enter the big compartments which received the 
 water ballast. "I want to be sure they work 
 properly and quickly. We've got to depend on 
 them to make us sink when we want to, and, 
 that's more important, to rise to the surface in 
 a hurry. I've got time enough to look them over 
 before dad and Mr. Sharp get back." 
 
 Tom entered the starboard tank by means of 
 an emergency sliding door between the big com- 
 partments and the main part of the ship. This 
 ;was closed by a worm and screw gear, and once 
 the ship was in the water would seldom be used. 
 
 The young inventor proceeded with his task, 
 carefully inspecting the valves by the light of a 
 lantern he carried. The apparatus seemed to be 
 
38 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 all right, and Tom was about to leave when a 
 peculiar noise attracted his attention. It was 
 the sound of metal scraping on metal, and the 
 lad's quick and well-trained ear told him it was 
 somewhere about the ship. 
 
 He turned to leave the tank, but as he wheeled 
 around his light flashed on a solid wall of steel 
 back of him. The emergency outlet had been 
 closed ! He was a prisoner in the water compart- 
 ment, and he knew, from past experience, that 
 shout as he would, his voice could not be heard 
 ten feet away. His father and Mr. Sharp, as he 
 was aware, had gone to a near-by city for some 
 tools, and Mr. Jackson, the engineer, was tem- 
 porarily away. Mrs. Baggert, in the house, could 
 not hear his cries. 
 
 "I'm locked in !" cried Tom aloud. 'The worm 
 gear must have shut of itself. But I don't see 
 how that could be. I've got to get out mighty 
 soon, though, or I'll smother. This tank is air- 
 tight, and it won't take me long to breath up all 
 the oxygen there is here. I must get that slide 
 open." 
 
 He sought to grasp the steel plate that closed 
 the emergency opening. His fingers slipped over 
 the smooth, polished surface. He was hermetic- 
 ally sealed up a captive! Blankly he set his 
 
TOM IS IMPRISONED 39 
 
 lantern down and leaned hopelessly against the 
 wall of the tank. 
 
 "I've got to get out," he murmured. 
 
 As if in answer to him he heard a voice on the 
 outside, crying : 
 
 "There, Tom Swift! I guess I've gotten even 
 with you now ! Maybe next time you won't take 
 a reward away from me, and lick me into the 
 bargain. I've got you shut up good and tight, 
 and you'll stay there until I get ready to let you 
 out." 
 
 "Andy Foger!" gasped Tom. "Andy Foger 
 sneaked in here and turned the gear. But how 
 did he get to this part of the coast ? Andy Foger, 
 you let me out !" shouted the young inventor ; and 
 as Andy's mocking laugh came to him faintly 
 through the steel sides of the submarine, the im- 
 prisoned lad beat desperately with his hands on 
 the smooth sides of the tank, vainly wondering 
 how his enemy had discovered him. 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 MR. BERG IS SUSPICIOUS 
 
 NOT for long did the young inventor endeavor 
 to break his way out of the water-ballast tank by 
 striking the heavy sides of it. Tom realized that 
 this was worse than useless. He listened in- 
 tently, but could hear nothing. Even the retreat- 
 ing footsteps of Andy Foger were inaudible. 
 
 "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." 
 
 40 
 
MR. BERG IS SUSPICIOUS 41 
 
 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 re- 
 sponse. He hardly expected that there would 
 be any, for with his father and Mr. Sharp away, 
 the engineer absent on an errand, and Mra Bag- 
 gert 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 tk$a 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 rdss 
 me and make a search. Then it will be asy 
 enough to call to them and tell them where 1 am, 
 
 once they are inside the shed. But " He 
 
 Caused, for a horrible fear came over him. "Stap- 
 Jose they should come too late?" The tank was 
 
42 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 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 imagi- 
 nation. 
 
 "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 he was weary. 
 No one answered him. He fancied once he could 
 hear footsteps in the shed, and thought, perhaps, 
 it was And)'-, come back to gloat over him. Then 
 Torn 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 endanger- 
 ing 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 now the air wa* 
 becoming close. Tom had been imprisoned near- 
 ly two hours, and as he was a healthy, strong lad, 
 he required plenty of oxygen. There was cer- 
 tainly less than there had been in the tank. His 
 head began to buzz, and there was a ringing in 
 feis ears. 
 
 Once more ne fell upon his knees, and his 
 
MR. BERG IS SUSPICIOUS 43 
 
 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 he 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 ta 
 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 Torn 
 sprang up with an exclamation. 
 
 "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 far- 
 ther than my voice would." Every one knows 
 how far the noise of a boiler shop, with hammers 
 
44 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 falling on steel plates, can be heard; much fas* 
 ther 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 v 
 *Jbe young inventor would sometimes pound on 
 i 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 oc- 
 casion to use it. 
 
 Tom remembered this now. At once he ceased 
 bis indiscriminate hammering, and began to beat 
 out regularly one, two, three, four then a 
 pause, and seven blows would be given. Ovef 
 and over again he rang out this number forty* 
 seven the call for help. 
 
 "If Mr. Sharp only comes back he will heas 
 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 thf .submarine." 
 
MR. BERG IS SUSPICIOUS 45 
 
 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 be- 
 coming 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?" 
 
 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 
 
 "Yes I I guess so," was the hesitating an- 
 swer. "Yes," the lad added, as the fresh air 
 cleared his head. "I'll be all right pretty soon. 
 Have you seen Andy Foger?'' 
 
4 6 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 "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 tinker- 
 ing 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 brew- 
 ing a big basin of catnip tea, under the impres- 
 sion that it would in some way be good for him. 
 
MR. BERG IS SUSPICIOUS 47 
 
 She could not forgive herself for not having an- 
 swered 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 in putting the finishing 
 touches to the Advance. It was found that some 
 alteration was required in the auxiliary propel- 
 lers, 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, stand- 
 ing 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. 
 
48 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 Berg. "I wish to see your father, but as I don't 
 wish to lay myself open to suspicions by enter- 
 ing the shop, perhaps you will ask him to step 
 here." 
 
 "Certainly/' answered the lad, wondering why 
 the agent had returned. Getting the blueprints, 
 and asking Mr. Berg to sit down on the porch, 
 Tom delivered the message. 
 
 "You come back with me, Tom," said his 
 father. "I want you to be a witness to what he 
 says. I'm not going to get into trouble with 
 these people." 
 
 Mr. Berg came to the point at once. 
 
 "Mr. Swift," he said, "I wish you would re- 
 consider your determination not to enter the Gov- 
 ernment trials. I'd like to see you compete. So 
 would my firm." 
 
 "There is no use going over that again," re- 
 plied the aged inventor. "I have another object 
 in view now than trying for the Government prize. 
 What it is I can't say, but it may develop in time 
 if we are successful," and he looked at his son, 
 smiling the while. 
 
 Mr. Berg tried to argue, but it was of no avail. 
 Then he changed his manner, and said: 
 
 "Well, since you won't, you won't, I suppose. 
 I'll go back and report to my firm. Have you 
 
MR. BERG IS SUSPICIOUS 49 
 
 anything special to do this morning?" he went 
 on to Tom. 
 
 "Well, I can always find something to keep 
 me busy," replied the lad, "but as for anything 
 special " 
 
 "I thought perhaps you'd like to go for a trip 
 in my auto," interrupted Mr. Berg. "I had asked 
 a young man who is stopping at the same hotd 
 where I am to accompany me, but he has unex- 
 pectedly left, and I don't like to go alone. His 
 name was let me see. I have a wretched men* 
 ory for names, but it was something like Rogei 
 or Moger." 
 
 "Foger !" cried Tom. "Was it Andy Foger ?" 
 
 "Yes, that was it. Why, do you know him?'* 
 asked Mr. Berg in some surprise. 
 
 "I should say so," replied Tom. "He was the 
 cause of what might have resulted in something 
 serious for me," and the lad explained about being 
 imprisoned in the tank. 
 
 "You don't tell me!" cried Mr. Berg. "I had 
 no idea he was that kind of a lad. You see, his 
 father is one of the directors of the firm by whom 
 I am employed. Andy came from home to spend 
 a few weeks at the seaside, and stopped at the 
 same hotel that I did. He went off yesterday aft- 
 ernoon, and I haven't seen him since, though he 
 promised to go for a ride with me. He must have 
 
50 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 come over here and entered your shop unobserved. 
 I remember now he asked me where the submarine 
 was being built that was going to compete with 
 our firm's, and I told him. I didn't think he was 
 that kind of a lad. Well, since he's probably 
 gone back home w perhaps you will come for a 
 ride with me, Tom." 
 
 "I'm afraid I can't go, thank you," answered 
 the lad. "We are very busy getting our sub- 
 marine in shape for a trial. But I can imagine 
 why Andy left so hurriedly. He probably learned 
 that a doctor had been summoned for me, though, 
 as it happened, I didn't need one. But Andy prob- 
 ably got frightened at what he had done, and 
 left I'll make him more sorry, when I meet 
 him." 
 
 "Don't blame you a bit," commented Mr. Berg. 
 "Well, I must be getting back." 
 
 He hastened out to his auto, while Tom and 
 his father watched the agent. 
 
 "Tom, never trust that man," advised the aged 
 inventor solemnly. 
 
 "Just what I was about to remark," said his 
 son. "Well, let's get back to work. Queer that 
 he should come here again, and it's queer about 
 Andy Foger." 
 
 Father and son returned to the machine shop, 
 while Mr. Berg puffed away in his auto. A little 
 
MR. BERG IS SUSPICIOUS 51 
 
 later, Tom having occasion to go to a building 
 near the boundary line of the cottage property 
 which his father had hired for the season, saw, 
 through the hedge that bordered it, an automobile 
 standing in the road. A second glance showed 
 him that it was Mr. Berg's machine. Something 
 had gone wrong with it, and the agent had 
 alighted to make an adjustment. 
 
 The young inventor was close to the man, 
 though the latter was unaware of his presence. 
 
 "Hang it all!" Tom heard Mr. Berg exclaim 
 to himself. "I wonder what they can be up to? 
 They won't enter the Government contests, and 
 they won't say why. I believe they're up to some 
 game, and I've got to find out what it is. I 
 wonder if I couldn't use this Foger chap? 
 
 "He seems to have it in for this Tom Swift," 
 Mr. Berg went on, still talking to himself, though 
 not so low but that Tom could hear him. "I 
 think I'll try it. I'll get Andy Foger to sneak 
 around and find out what the game is. He'll do 
 it, I know." 
 
 By this time the auto was in working order 
 again, and the agent took his seat and started 
 off. 
 
 "So that's how matters lie, eh ?" thought Tom, 
 "Well, Mr. Berg, we'll be doubly on the lookout 
 for you after this. As for Andy Foger, I think 
 
|3 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 I'll make him wish he'd never locked me in that 
 tank. So you expect to find out our 'game/ eh^ 
 Mr. Berg? Well, when you do know it, I think 
 it will astonish you. I only hope you don't learn 
 what it is until we get at that sunken treasure, 
 though." 
 
 But alas for Tom's hopes. Mr. Berg did learn 
 of the object of the treasure-seekers, and sought 
 to defeat them, as we shall learn as our story 
 proceeds. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 TURNING THE TABLES 
 
 WHEN the young inventor informed bis father 
 what he had overheard Mr. Berg saying, the aged 
 inventor was not as much worried as his son 
 anticipated. 
 
 "All well have to do, Tom," he said, "is to 
 keep quiet about where we are going. Once we 
 have the Advance afloat, and try her out, we can 
 start on our voyage for the South American 
 coast and search for the sunken treasure. Whea 
 we begin our voyage under water I defy any one 
 to tell where we are going, or what our plans 
 are. No, I don't believe we need worry about 
 Mr. Berg, though he probably means mischief." 
 
 "Well, I'm going to keep my eyes open for 
 him and Andy Foger," declared Tom. 
 
 The days that followed were filled with work. 
 Not only were there many unexpected things to 
 do about the submarine, but Mr. Sharp was kept 
 busy making inquiries about the sunken treasure 
 
 53 
 
54 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 ship. These inquiries had to be made carefully, 
 as the adventurers did not want their plans talked 
 of, and nothing circulates more quickly than 
 rumors of an expedition after treasure of any 
 kind. 
 
 "What about the old sea captain you were go- 
 ing to get to go with us?" asked Mr. Swift ot 
 the balloonist one afternoon. "Have you sue* 
 ceeded in finding one yet?" 
 
 "Yes; I am in communication with a man I 
 think will be just the person for us. His name is 
 Captain Alden Weston, and he has sailed all over 
 the world. He has also taken part in more than 
 one revolution, and, in fact, is a soldier of for- 
 tune. I do not know him personally, but a friend 
 of mine knows him, and says he will serve us 
 faithfully. I have written to him, and he will 
 be here in a few days." 
 
 "That's good. Now about the location of the 
 wreck itself. Have you been able to learn any 
 more details?" 
 
 "Well, not many. You see, the Boldero was 
 abandoned in a storm, and the captain did not 
 take very careful observations. As nearly as it 
 can be figured out the treasure ship went to the 
 bottom in latitude forty-five degrees south, and 
 longitude twenty-seven east from Washington. 
 That's a pretty indefinite location, hut I hope, 
 
TURNING THE TABLES 5$ 
 
 tmce we get off the Uruguay coast, we can better 
 it. We can anchor or lay outside the harbor, and 
 in the small boat we carry go ashore and pos- 
 sibly gain more details. For it was at Monte- 
 video that the shipwrecked passengers and sailors 
 landed." 
 
 "Does Captain Weston know our object?" in- 
 quired Tom. 
 
 "No, and I don't propose to tell him until we 
 are ready to start/' replied Mr. Sharp. "I don't 
 know just how he'll consider a submarine trip 
 after treasure, but if I spring it on him suddenly 
 he's less likely to bade out. Oh, I think he'll 
 go." 
 
 Somewhat unexpectedly the next day it was 
 discovered that certain tools and appliances were 
 needed for the submarine, and they had been left 
 in the house at Shopton, where Eradicate Samp- 
 son was in charge as caretaker during the absence 
 of Mr. Swift and his son and the housekeeper. 
 
 "Well, I suppose we'll have to go back after 
 them," remarked Tom. "We'll take the airship, 
 dad, and make a two-days' trip of it. Is there 
 anything else you want ?" 
 
 "Well, you might bring a bundle of papers 
 you'll find in the lower right hand drawer of 
 my desk. They contain some memoranda I need." 
 
 Tom and Mr. Sharp had become so used to 
 
56 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 traveling in the airship that it seemed no novelty; 
 to them, though they attracted much attention 
 wherever they went. They soon had the Red 
 Cloud in readiness for a flight, and rising in the 
 air above the shop that contained the powerful 
 submarine, a craft utterly different in type from 
 the aeroplane, the nose of the airship was pointed 
 toward Shopton. 
 
 They made a good flight and landed near the 
 big shed where the bird of the air was kept. It 
 was early evening when they got to the Swift 
 homestead, and Eradicate Sampson was glad to 
 see them. 
 
 Eradicate was a good cook, and soon had a 
 meal ready for the travelers. Then, while Mr. 
 Sharp selected the tools and other things needed, 
 and put them in the airship ready for the start 
 back the next morning, Tom concluded he would 
 take a stroll into Shopton, to see if he could see 
 his friend, Ned Newton. It was early evening, 
 and the close of a beautiful day, a sharp shower 
 in the morning having cooled the air. 
 
 Tom was greeted by a number of acquaintances; 
 as he strolled along, for, since the episode of the 
 bank robbery, when he had so unexpectedly re- 
 turned with the thieves and the cash, the lad 
 was better known than ever. 
 
 "I guess Ned must be home," thought cror here 
 
TURNING THE TABLES 57 
 
 as he looked in vain for his chum among the 
 throng on the streets. "I've got time to take a 
 stroll down to his house." 
 
 Tom was about to cross the street when he 
 was startled by the sound of an automobile horn 
 loudly blown just at his side. Then a voice 
 called : 
 
 "Hey, there ! Git out of the way if you don't 
 want to be run over !" 
 
 He looked up, and saw a car careening along. 
 At the wheel was the red-haired bully, Andy 
 Foger, and in the tonneau were Sam Snedecker 
 and Pete Bailey. 
 
 "Git out of the way," added Sam, and he 
 grinned maliciously at Tom. 
 
 The latter stepped back, well out of the path of 
 the car, which was not moving very fast. Just 
 in front of Tom was a puddle of muddy water. 
 There was no necessity for Andy steering into 
 it, but he saw his opportunity, and a moment later 
 one of the big pneumatic tires had plunged into 
 the dirty fluid, spattering it all over Tom, some 
 even going as high as his face. 
 - "Ha! ha!" laughed Andy. "Maybe you'll get 
 out of my way next time, Tom Swift." 
 
 The young inventor was almost speechless from 
 righteous anger. He wiped the mud from his 
 
58 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 face, glanced down at his clothes, which were all 
 but ruined, and called out: 
 
 "Hold on there, Andy Foger! I want to see 
 you !" for he thought of the time when Andy had! 
 shut him in the tank. 
 
 "Ta! tal" shouted Pete Bailey. 
 
 "See you later/' added Sam. 
 
 "Better go home and take a bath, and then sail 
 away in your submarine," went on Andy. "I'll 
 bet it will sink." 
 
 Before Tom could reply the auto had turned 
 a corner. Disgusted and angry, he tried to sop 
 up some of the muddy water with his handker- 
 chief. While thus engaged he heard his name 
 called, and looked up to see Ned Newton. 
 
 "What's the matter? Fall down?" asked his 
 chum. 
 
 "Andy Foger," replied Tom. 
 
 "That's enough," retorted Ned. "I can guess 
 the rest. We'll have to tar and feather him some 
 day, and ride him out of town on a rail. I'd 
 lick him myself, only his father is a director in 
 the bank where I work, and I'd be fired if I did. 
 Can't afford any such pleasure. But some day 
 I'll give Andy a good trouncing, and then resign 
 before they can discharge me. But I'll be looking 
 for another job before I do that. Come on to 
 my house, Tom, and I'll help you clean IT;," 
 
TURNING THE TABLES 59 
 
 Tom was a little more presentable when he 
 left his chum's residence, after spending the eve- 
 ning there, but he was still burning for revenge 
 against Andy and his cronies. He had half a 
 notion to go to Andy's house and tell Mr. Foger 
 how nearly serious the bully's prank at the sub- 
 marine had been, but he concluded that Mr. Foger 
 Would only uphold his son. 
 
 "No, I'll settle with him myself," decided Tom. 
 
 Bidding Eradicate keep a watchful eye about 
 the house, and leaving word for Mr. Damon to 
 be sure to come to the coast if he again called 
 at the Shopton house, Tom and Mr. Sharp pre- 
 pared to make their return trip early the next 
 morning. 
 
 The gas tank was filled and the Red Cloud 
 arose in the air. Then, with the propellers mov- 
 ing at moderate speed, the nose of the craft was 
 pointed toward the New Jersey coast. 
 
 A few miles out from Shopton, finding there 
 Was a contrary wind in the upper regions where 
 they were traveling, Mr. Sharp descended several 
 hundred feet. They were moving over a sparsely 
 settled part of the country, and looking down, 
 Tom saw, speeding along a highway, an auto- 
 mobile. 
 
 "I wonder who's in it?" he remarked, taking 
 down a telescope and peering over the window 
 
60 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 ledge of the cabin. The next moment he uttered 
 a startled exclamation. 
 
 "Andy Foger, Sam Snedecker and Pete, 
 Bailey!" he cried. "Oh, I wish I had a bucket 
 of water to empty on them." 
 
 "I know a better way to get even with them 
 than that," said Mr. Sharp. 
 
 "How?" asked Tom eagerly. 
 
 "I'll show you," replied the balloonist. "It's a 
 trick I once played on a fellow who did me an 
 injury. Here, you steer for a minute until I 
 get the thing fixed, then I'll take charge." 
 
 Mr. Sharp went to the storeroom and came 
 back with a long, stout rope and a small anchor 
 of four prongs. It was carried to be used in 
 emergencies, but so far had never been called into 
 requisition. Fastening the grapple to the cable, 
 the balloonist said : 
 
 "Now, Tom, they haven't seen you. You stand 
 in the stern and pay out the rope. I'll steer the 
 airship, and what I want you to do is to catch the 
 anchor in the rear of their car. Then I'll show 
 you some fun." 
 
 Tom followed instructions. Slowly he lowered 
 the rope with the dangling grapple. The airship 
 was also sent down, as the cable was not quite 
 long enough to reach the earth from the height 
 at which they were. The engine was run at 
 
TURNING THE TABLES 6u 
 
 slow speed, so that the noise would not attract 
 the attention of the three cronies who were speed- 
 ing along, all unconscious of the craft in the air 
 over their heads. The Red Cloud was moving 
 in the same direction as was the automobile. 
 
 The anchor was now close to the rear of Andy's 
 car. Suddenly it caught on the tonneau and Tom 
 called that fact to Mr. Sharp. 
 
 "Fasten the rope at the cleat," directed the 
 balloonist. 
 
 Tom did so, and a moment later the aeronaut 
 sent the airship up by turning more gas into the 
 container. At the same time he reversed the 
 engine and the Red Cloud began pulling the tour- 
 ing car backward, also lifting the rear wheels 
 dear from the earth. 
 
 A startled cry from the occupants of the ma- 
 chine told Tom and his friend that Andy and his 
 cronies were aware something was wrong. A 
 moment later Andy, looking up, saw the airship 
 hovering in the air above him. Then he saw the 
 rope fast to his auto. The airship was not rising 
 now, or the auto would have been turned over, 
 but it was slowly pulling it backward, in spite ol 
 the fact that the motor of the car was still going. 
 
 "Here! You let go of me !" cried Andy. "I'll 
 have you arrested if you damage my car." 
 
 "Come up here and cut the rope." called Tom* 
 
62 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 leaning over and looking down. He could enjoy 
 the bully's discomfiture. As for Sam and Pete, 
 they were much frightened, and cowered down 
 on the floor of the tonneau. 
 
 "Maybe you'll shut me in the tank again and 
 splash mud on me !" shouted Tom. 
 
 The rear wheels of the auto were lifted still 
 higher from the ground, as Mr. Sharp turned on 
 a little more gas. Andy was not proof against 
 this. 
 
 "Oh! oh!" he cried. "Please let me down, 
 Tom. I'm awful sorry for what I did ! I'll never 
 do it again ! Please, please let me down ! Don't I 
 You'll tip me over !" 
 
 He had shut off his motor now, and was fran- 
 tically clinging to the steering wheel. 
 
 "Do you admit that you're a sneak and a cow- 
 ard?" asked Tom, "rubbing it in." 
 
 "Yes, yes! Oh, please let me down!" 
 
 "Shall we?" asked Tom of Mr. Sharp. 
 
 "Yes," replied the balloonist. "We can afford 
 to lose the rope and anchor for the sake of turn- 
 ing the tables. Cut the cable." 
 
 Tom saw what was intended. Using a little 
 fiatchet, he severed the rope with a single blow. 
 With a crash that could be heard up in the air 
 where the Red Cloud hovered, the rear wheels 
 
TURNING THE TABLES 63 
 
 of the auto dropped to the ground. Then came 
 two loud reports. 
 
 "Both tires busted!" commented Mr. Sharp 
 dryly, and Tom, looking down, saw the trio of 
 lads ruefully contemplating the collapsed rubber 
 of the rear wheels. The tables had been effectual' 
 ly turned on Andy Foger. His auto was disabled, 
 and the airship, with a graceful sweep, mounted 
 higher and higher, continuing on its way to the 
 coast. 
 
CHAPTER VII 
 
 MR. DAMON WILL GO 
 
 "WELL, I guess they've had their lesson/* r& 
 marked Tom, as he took an observation through 
 the telescope and saw Andy and his cronies hard 
 at work trying to repair the ruptured tires. "That 
 certainly was a corking good trick." 
 
 "Yes," admitted Mr. Sharp modestly. "I once 
 did something similar, only it was a horse and 
 wagon instead of an auto. But let's try for an- 
 other speed record. .The conditions are just 
 right." 
 
 They arrived at the coast much sooner than 
 they had dared to hope, the Red Cloud proving 
 herself a veritable wonder. 
 
 The remainder of that day, and part of the 
 next, was spent in working on the submarine. 
 
 "We'll launch her day after to-morrow," de- 
 clared Mr. Swift enthusiastically. "Then to see 
 whether my calculations are right or wrong." 
 
 64 
 
MR. DAMON WILL GO 65 
 
 "It won't be your fault if it doesn't work," said 
 his son. "You certainly have done your best/' 
 
 "And so have you and Mr. Sharp and the 
 others, for that matter. Well, I have no doubf 
 but that everything will be all right, Tom." 
 
 "There !" exclaimed Mr. Sharp the next morn- 
 ing, as he was adjusting a certain gage. "I knew 
 I'd forget something. That special brand of lubri- 
 cating oil. I meant to bring it from Shopton, and 
 I didn't" 
 
 "Maybe I can get it in Atlantis," suggested 
 Tom, naming the coast city nearest to them. "I'll, 
 take a walk over. It isn't far. w 
 
 "Will you? I'll be glad to have you,** resumed 
 the balloonist. "A gallon- will be all we'll need." 
 
 Tom was soon on his way. He had to walk, as 
 the roads were too poor to permit him to use 
 the motor-cycle, and the airship attracted too 
 much attention to use on a short trip. He was 
 strolling along, when from the other side of a 
 row of sand dunes, that lined the uncertain road 
 to Atlantis, he heard some one speaking. At first 
 the tones were not distinct, but as the lad drew 
 nearer to the voice he heard an exclamation. 
 
 "Bless my gold-headed cane! I believe I'm 
 lost. He said it was out this way somewhere, but 
 I don't see anything of it. If I had that Eradi- 
 
66 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 cate Sampson here now I'd bless my shoelaces! 
 I don't know what I would do to him." 
 
 "Mr. Damon ! Mr. Damon !" cried Tom. "Is 
 that you?" 
 
 "Me? Of course it's me! Who else would it 
 be?" answered the voice. "But who are you? 
 Why, bless my liver! If it isn't Tom Swift!" he 
 cried. "Oh, but I'm glad to see you! I was 
 afraid I was shipwrecked ! Bless my gaiters, how 
 are you, anyhow ? How is your father ? How is 
 Mr. Sharp, and all the rest of them?" 
 
 "Pretty well. And you?" 
 
 "Me ? Oh, I'm all right ; only a trifle nervous. 
 I called at your house in Shopton yesterday, and 
 Eradicate told me, as well as he could, where you 
 were located. I had nothing to do, so I thought 
 I'd take a run down here. But what's this I 
 hear about you? Are you going on a voyage J" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "In the air? May I go along again? I cer- 
 tainly enjoyed my other trip in the Red Cloiid. 
 [That is, all but the fire and being shot at. May 
 I go?" 
 
 "We're going on a different sort of trip this 
 time," said the youth. 
 
 "Where?" 
 
 "Under water." 
 
MR. DAMON WILL GO 67 
 
 "Under water? Bless my sponge bath! You 
 cion't mean it !" 
 
 "Yes. Dad has completed the submarine he 
 was working on when we were off in the airship, 
 and it will be launched the day after to-morrow.'* 
 
 "Oh, that's so. I'd forgotten about it. He's 
 going to try for the Government prize, isn't he? 
 But tell me more about it. Bless my scarf-pin, but 
 I'm glad I met you ! Going into town, I take it. 
 [Well, I just came from there, but I'll walk back 
 with you. Do you think is there any possibility 
 that I could go with you? Of course, I don't 
 want to crowd you, but " 
 
 "Oh, there'll be plenty of room," replied the 
 young inventor. "In fact, more, room than we 
 had in the airship. We were talking only the 
 other day about the possibility of you going with 
 us, but we didn't think you'd risk it." 
 
 "Risk it? Bless my liver! Of course I'll risk 
 it! It can't be as bad as sailing in the air. You 
 can't fall, that's certain." 
 
 "No; but maybe you can't rise," remarked Tom 
 grimly. 
 
 "Oh, we won't think of that. Of course, I'd 
 like to go. I fully expected to be killed in the 
 Red Cloud, but as I wasn't I'm ready to take a 
 chance in the water. On the whole, I think I 
 
68 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 prefer to be buried at sea, anyhow. Now, then, 
 will you take me?" 
 
 "I think I can safely promise," answered Tom 
 with a smile at his friend's enthusiasm. 
 
 The two were approaching the city, having 
 .walked along as they talked. There were still 
 some sand dunes near the road, and they kept on 
 the side of these, nearest the beach, where they; 
 could watch the breakers. 
 
 "But you haven't told me where you are go- 
 ing," went on Mr. Damon, after blessing a few 
 dozen objects. "Where do the Government trials 
 take place?" 
 
 "Well," replied the lad, "to be frank with you, 
 we have abandoned our intention of trying for 
 the Government prize." 
 
 "Not going to try for it? Bless my slippers! 
 ,Why not? Isn't fifty thousand dollars worth 
 striving for ? And, with the kind of a submarine 
 you say you have, you ought to be able to win." 
 
 "Yes, probably we could win," admitted the 
 young inventor, "but we are going to try for a 
 better prize." 
 
 "A better one? I don't understand." 
 
 "Sunken treasure," explained Tom. "There's a 
 ship sunk off the coast of Uruguay, with three 
 hundred thousand dollars in gold bullion aboard, 
 and I are going to try to recover that in 
 
MR. DAMON WILL GO G$ 
 
 submarine. We're going to start day after to- 
 morrow, and, if you like, you may go along." 
 
 "Go along! Of course I'll go along!" cried 
 the eccentric man. "But I never heard of such 
 a thing. Sunken treasure ! Three hundred thou- 
 sand dollars in gold ! My, what a lot of money ! 
 And to go after it in a submarine! It's as good 
 as a story !" 
 
 "Yes, we hope to recover all the treasure," said 
 the lad. "We ought to be able to claim at least 
 half of it" 
 
 "Bless my pocketbook!" cried Mr. Damon, but 
 Tom did not hear him. At that instant his atten- 
 tion was attracted by seeing two men emerge from 
 behind the sand dune near which he and Mr. 
 Damon had halted momentarily, when the youth 
 explained about the treasure. The man looked 
 sharply at Tom. A moment later the first man 
 was joined by another, and at the sight of him 
 our hero could not repress an exclamation of 
 alarm. For the second man was none other than 
 Addison Berg. 
 
 The latter glanced quickly at Tom, and then, 
 with a hasty word to his companion, the two 
 swung around and made off in the opposite direc- 
 tion to that in which they had been walking. 
 
 "What's the matter?" asked Mr. Damon, see- 
 ing the young inventor was strangely affected. * 
 
yo TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT ' 
 
 "That that man," stammered the lad. 
 
 "You don't mean to tell me that was one of 
 tfie Happy Harry gang, do you?" 
 
 "No. But one, or both of those men, may 
 prove to be worse. That second man was Addi- 
 son Berg, and he's agent for a firm of submarine 
 boat builders who are rivals of dad's. Berg has 
 been trying to find out why we abandoned our 
 intention of competing for the Government prize." 
 
 "I hope you didn't tell him." 
 
 "I didn't intend to," replied Tom, smiling grim-* 
 ly, "but I'm afraid I have, however. He certainly 
 overheard what I said. I spoke too loud. Yes, 
 he must have heard me. That's why he hurried 
 off so." 
 
 "Possibly no harm is done. You didn't give the 
 location of the sunken ship." 
 
 "No; but I guess from what I said it will be 
 easy enough to find. Well, if we're going to 
 have a fight for the possession of that sunken gold, 
 I'm ready for it. The Advance is well equipped 
 for a battle. I must tell dad of this. It's m^ 
 fault." 
 
 "And partly mine, for asking you such leading, 
 questions in a public place," declared Mr. Damon. 
 "Bless my coat-tails, but I'm sorry ! Maybe, after 
 all, those men were so interested in what they. 
 
MR. DAMON WILL GO 71 
 
 themselves were saying that they didn't under- 
 stand what you said." 
 
 But if there had been any doubts on this score 
 they would have been dissolved had Tom and 
 his friend been able to see the actions of Mr. 
 Berg and his companion a little later. The plans 
 of the treasure-hunters had been revealed to their 
 enemies. 
 
CHAPTER 
 
 ANOTHER TREASURE EXPEDITION 1 
 
 WHILE Tom and Mr. Damon continued on to 
 Atlantis after the oil, the young inventor lament- 
 ing' from time to time that his remarks about the 
 real destination of the Advance had been over- 
 heard by Mr. Berg, the latter and his companion 
 were hastening back along the path that ran on 
 one side of the sand dunes. 
 
 "What's your hurry?" asked Mr. Maxwell, 
 who was with the submarine agent. "You turned 
 around as if you were shot when you saw that 
 man and the lad. There didn't appear to be any 
 cause for such a hurry. From what I could 
 hear tjiey were talking about a submarine. You're 
 in the same business. You might be friends." 
 
 "Yes, we might," admitted Mr. Berg with a 
 peculiar smile; "but, unless I'm very much mis- 
 taken, we're going to be rivals." 
 
 "Rivals? What do you mean?" 
 
 "I can't tell you now. Perhaps I may later. 
 72 
 
'ANOTHER TREASURE EXPEDITION 73 
 
 But if yota don't mind, walk a little faster, please. 
 I want to get to a long-distance telephone." 
 
 "What for?" 
 
 "I have just overheard something that I wish' 
 to communicate to my employers, Bentley & 
 Eagert." 
 
 "Overheard something? I don't see what it 
 could be, unless that lad " 
 
 "YouTI learn in good time," went on the sub- 
 marine agent. "But I must telephone at once." 
 
 A little later the two men had reached a trolley 
 line that ran into Atlantis, and they arrived at 
 the city before Mr. Damon and Tom got there, 
 as the latter had to go by a circuitous route. 
 Mr. Berg lost no time in calling up his firm by 
 telephone. 
 
 "I have had another talk with Mr. Swift," he 
 reported to Mr. Bentley, who came to the instru- 
 ment in Philadelphia. 
 
 "Well, what does he say?" was the impatient 
 question. "I can't understand his not wanting 
 to try for the Government prize. It is astonish- 
 ^ing. You said you were going to discover the 
 reason, Mr. Berg, but you haven't done so." 
 
 "I have." 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 "Well, the reason Mr. Swift and his son don't 
 care to try for the fifty thousand dollar prize is 
 
74 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 that they are after one of three hundred thou- 
 sand dollars." 
 
 "Three hundred thousand dollars!'* cried Mr* 
 Bentley. "What government is going to offer 
 such a prize as that for submarines, when they 
 are getting almost as common as airships? We 
 ought to have a try for that ourselves. What 
 government is it?" 
 
 "No government at all. But I think we ottgW 
 to have a try for it, Mr. Bentley." 
 
 "Explain." 
 
 "Well, I have just learned, most accidentally, 
 that the Swifts are going after sunken treasure 
 three hundred thousand dollars in gold bullion." 
 
 "Sunken treasure? Where?" 
 
 "I don't know exactly, but off the coast of 
 Uruguay," and Mr. Berg rapidly related what 
 he had overheard Tom tell Mr. Damon. Mr. 
 Bentley was much excited and impatient for more 
 details, but his agent could not give them to him. 
 
 "Well," concluded the senior member of the 
 firm of submarine boat builders, "if the Swifts 
 are going after treasure, so can we. Come to 
 Philadelphia at once, Mr. Berg, and we'll talk^ 
 this matter over. There is no time to lose. We 
 can afford to forego the Government prize for 
 the chance of getting a much larger one. We 
 have as much right to search for the sunken gold 
 
ANOTHER TREASURE EXPEDITION 73 
 
 as the Swifts have. Come here at once, and we 
 will make our plans." 
 
 "All right," agreed the agent with a smile as he 
 -hung up the receiver. "I guess," he murmured 
 to himself, "that you won't be so high and mighty 
 with me after this, Tom Swift. We'll see who 
 has the best boat, after all. We'll have a contest 
 and a competition, but not for a government 
 prize. It will be for the sunken gold." 
 
 It was easy to see that Mr. Berg was much 
 pleased with himself. 
 
 Meanwhile, Tom and Mr. Damon had reached 
 Atlantis, and had purchased the oil. They started 
 back, but Tom took a street leading toward the 
 center of the place, instead of striking for the 
 beach path, along which they had come. 
 
 "Where are you going?" asked Mr. Damon. 
 
 "I want to see if that Andy Foger has come 
 back here," replied the lad, and he told of having 
 been shut in the tank by the bully. 
 
 "I've never properly punished him for that 
 trick," he went on, "though we did manage to 
 burst his auto tires. I'm curious to know how he 
 knew enough to turn that gear and shut the tank 
 door. He must have been loitering near the shop, 
 seen me go in the submarine alone, watched his 
 chance and sneaked in after me. But I'd like to 
 get a complete explanation, and if I once got hold 
 
76 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 of Andy I could make him talk," and Ton? 
 clenched his fist in a manner that augured no good 
 for the squint-eyed lad. "He was stopping at 
 the same hotel with Mr. Berg, and he hurried 
 away after the trick he played on me. I next 
 saw him in Shopton, but I thought perhaps he 
 might have come back here. I'm going to in- 
 quire at the hotel," he added. 
 
 Andy's name was not on the register since his 
 hasty flight, however, and Tom, after inquiring 
 from the clerk and learning that Mr. Berg was 
 still a guest at the hostelry, rejoined Mr. Damon. 
 
 "Bless my hat!" exclaimed that eccentric in- 
 dividual as they started back to the lonely beach 
 where the submarine was awaiting her advent 
 into the water. "The more I think of the trip 
 I'm going to take, the more I like it." 
 
 "I hope you will," remarked Tom. "It will 
 be a new experience for all of us. There's only 
 one thing worrying me, and that is about Mr. 
 Berg having overheard what I said." 
 
 "Oh, don't worry about that. Can't we slip 
 away and leave no trace in the water ?" 
 
 "I hope so, but I must tell dad and Mr. Sharp 
 about what happened." 
 
 The aged inventor was not a little alarmed at 
 what his son related, but he agreed with Mr. 
 Damon, whom he heartily welcomed, that little 
 
ANOTHER TREASURE EXPEDITION 77 
 
 was to be apprehended from Berg and his em- 
 ployers. 
 
 "They know we're after a sunken wreck, but 
 that's all they do know," said Tom's father. "We 
 are only waiting for the arrival of Captain Alden 
 Weston, and then we will go. Even if Bentley 
 & Eagert make a try for the treasure we'll have 
 the start of them, and this will be a case of first 
 come, first served. Don't worry, Tom. I'm glad 
 you're going, Mr. Damon. Come, I will show 
 you our submarine." 
 
 As father and son, with their guest, were going 
 to the machine shop, Mr. Sharp met them. He 
 had a letter in his hand. 
 
 "Good news!" the balloonist cried. "Captain 
 Weston will be with us to-morrow. He will ar- 
 rive at the Beach Hotel in Atlantis, and wants 
 one of us to meet him there. He has considerable 
 information about the wreck." 
 
 'The Beach Hotel," murmured Tom. "That 
 is where Mr. Berg is stopping. I hope he doesn't 
 worm any of our secret from Captain Weston," 
 and it was with a feeling of uneasiness that the 
 young inventor continued after his father and 
 Mr. Damon to where the submarine was. 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 CAPTAIN WESTON'S ADVENT 
 
 "BLESS my water ballast, but that certainly is 
 a fine boat !" cried Mr. Damon, when he had been 
 shown over the new craft. "I think I shall feel 
 even safer in that than in the Red Cloud" 
 
 "Oh, don't go back on the airship !" exclaimed 
 Mr. Sharp. "I was counting on taking you on 
 another trip." 
 
 "Well, maybe after we get back from under 
 the ocean," agreed Mr. Damon. "I particularly 
 like the cabin arrangements of the Advance. I 
 think I shall enjoy myself." 
 
 He would be hard to please who could not take 
 pleasure from a trip in the submarine. The 
 cabin was particularly fine, and the sleeping ar- 
 rangements were good. 
 
 More supplies could be carried than was pos- 
 sible on the airship, and there was more room 
 in which to cook and serve food. Mr. Damon 
 was fond of good living, and the kitchen pleased 
 him as much as anything else. 
 
 58 
 
CAPTAIN WESTON'S ADVENT 79 
 
 Early the next morning Tom set out for At- 
 lantis, to meet Captain Weston at the hotel. The 
 young inventor inquired of the clerk whether the 
 seafaring man had arrived, and was told that 
 he had come the previous evening. 
 
 "Is he in his room?" asked Tom. 
 
 "No," answered the clerk with a peculiar grin. 
 "He's an odd character. Wouldn't go to bed 
 last night until we had every window in his 
 room open, though it was blowing quite hard, 
 and likely to storm. The captain said he was 
 used to plenty of fresh air. Well, I guess he got 
 it, all right." 
 
 "Where is he now?" asked the youth, wonder- 
 ing what sort of an individual he was to meet. 
 
 "Oh, he was up before sunrise, so some of the 
 scrubwomen told me. They met him coming 
 from his room, and he went right down to the 
 beach with a big telescope he always carries with 
 him. He hasn't come back yet. Probably he's 
 down on the sand." 
 
 "Hasn't he had breakfast?" 
 
 "No. He left word he didn't want to eat until 
 afeout four bells, whatever time that is." 
 
 "It's ten o'clock," replied Tom, who had been 
 studying up on sea terms lately. "Eight bells is 
 eight o'clock in the morning, or four in the after- 
 neon or eight at night, according to the time of 
 
80 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 day. Then there's one bell for every half hour, 
 so four bells this morning would be ten o'clock 
 in this watch, I suppose." 
 
 "Oh, that's the way it goes, eh?" asked the 
 clerk. "I never could get it through my head. 
 What is twelve o'clock noon?" 
 
 "That's eight bells, too; so is twelve o'clock 
 midnight. Eight bells is as high as they go on a 
 ship. But I guess I'll go down and see if I can 
 meet the captain. It will soon be ten o'clock, or 
 four bells, and he must be hungry for breakfast. 
 By the way, is that Mr. Berg still here?" 
 
 "No; he went away early this morning. He 
 and Captain Weston seemed to strike up quite 
 an acquaintance, the night clerk told me. They 
 sat and smoked together until long after mid- 
 night, or eight bells," and the clerk smiled as he 
 glanced down at the big diamond ring on his 
 little finger. 
 
 "They did?" fairly exploded Tom, for he had 
 visions of what the wily Mr. Berg might worm 
 out of the simple captain. 
 
 "Yes. Why, isn't the captain a proper man to 
 make friends with ?" and the clerk looked at Tom 
 curiously. 
 
 "Oh, yes, of course," was the hasty answer. "I 
 guess I'll go and see if I can find him the cap- 
 tain, I mean." 
 
CAPTAIN WESTON'S ADVENT gn 
 
 Tom hardly knew what to think. He wished 
 his father, or Mr. Sharp, had thought to warn 
 Captain Weston against talking of the wreck. It 
 might be too late now. 
 
 The young inventor hurried to the beach, which 
 was not far from the hotel. He saw a solitary 
 figure pacing up and down, and from the fact 
 that the man stopped, every now and then, and 
 gazed seaward through a large telescope, the lad 
 concluded it was the captain for whom he was 
 in search. He approached, his footsteps making 
 no sound on the sand. The man was still gazing 
 through the glass. 
 
 "Captain Weston?" spoke Tom. 
 
 Without a show of haste, though the voice must 
 have startled him, the captain turned. Slowly 
 he lowered the telescope, and then he replied 
 softly : 
 
 'That's my name. Who are you, if I may 
 ask?" 
 
 Tom was struck, more than by anything else, 
 by the gentle voice of the seaman. He had pre- 
 pared himself, from the description of Mn Sharp, 
 to meet a gruff, bewhiskered individual, with a 
 voice like a crosscut saw, and a rolling gait. In- 
 stead he saw a man of medium size, with a smooth 
 face, merry blue eyes, and the softest voice and 
 gentlest manner imaginable. Tom was very much 
 
82 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 disappointed. He had looked for a regular sea- 
 dog, and he met a landsman, as he said after- 
 ward. But it was not long before our hero 
 changed his mind regarding Captain Weston. 
 
 "I'm Tom Swift," the owner of that name 
 said, "and I have been sent to show you the way 
 to where our ship is ready to launch." The young 
 inventor refrained from mentioning submarine, 
 as it was the wish of Mr. Sharp to disclose this 
 feature of the voyage to the sailor himself. 
 
 "Ha, I thought as much," resumed the captain 
 quietly. "It's a fine day, if I may be permitted to 
 say so," and he seemed to hesitate, as if there 
 was some doubt whether or not he might make 
 that observation. 
 
 "It certainly is," agreed the lad. Then, with 
 a smile he added : "It is nearly eight bells." 
 
 "Ha !" exclaimed the captain, also smiling, but 
 even his manner of saying "Ha !" was less demon- 
 strative than that of most persons. "I believe I 
 am getting hungry, if I may be allowed the re- 
 mark," and again he seemed asking Tom's pardon 
 for mentioning the fact. 
 
 "Perhaps you will come back to the cabin and 
 have a little breakfast with me," he went on. "I 
 don't know what sort of a galley or cook they 
 have aboard the Beach Hotel, but it can't be much 
 worse than some I've tackled." 
 
CAPTAIN WESTON'S ADVENT 83 
 
 "No, thank you," answered the youth. "I've 
 had my breakfast. But I'll wait for you, and 
 then I'd like to get back. Dad and Mr. Sharp 
 are anxious to meet you." 
 
 ''And I am anxious to meet them, if you don't 
 mind me mentioning it," was the reply, as the 
 captain once more put the spyglass to his eye 
 and took an observation. "Not many sails in 
 sight this morning," he added. "But the weather 
 is fine, and we ought to get off in good shape to 
 hunt for the treasure about which Mr. Sharp 
 wrote me. I believe we are going after treasure," 
 he said ; "that is, if you don't mind talking about 
 it." 
 
 "Not in the least," replied Tom quickly, think- 
 ing this a good opportunity for broaching a sub* 
 ject that was worrying him. "Did you meet a 
 Mr. Berg here last night, Captain Weston?" lie 
 went on. 
 
 "Yes. Mr. Berg and I had quite a talk. He 
 is a well-informed man." 
 
 "Did he mention the sunken treasure?" asked 
 the lad, eager to find out if his suspicions were 
 true. 
 
 "Yes, he did, if you'll excuse me putting it so 
 plainly," answered the seaman, as if Tom might 
 be offended at so direct a reply. But the young 
 
84 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 inventor was soon to learn that this was only an 
 odd habit with the seaman. 
 
 "Did he want to know where the wreck of the 
 Boldero was located?" continued the lad. "That 
 is, did he try to discover if you knew anything 
 about it? 3 ' 
 
 "Yes," said Mr. Weston, "he did. He pumped 
 me, if you are acquainted with that term, and 
 are not offended by it. You see, when I arrived 
 here I made inquiries as to where your father's 
 place was located. Mr. Berg overheard me, and 
 introduced himself as agent for a shipbuilding 
 concern. He was very friendly, and when he 
 said he knew you and your parent, I thought he 
 was all right." 
 
 Tom's heart sank. His worst fears were to be 
 realized, he thought. 
 
 "Yes, he and I talked considerable, if I may 
 be permitted to say so," went on the captain. "He 
 seemed to know about the wreck of the Boldero, 
 and that she had three hundred thousand dollars 
 in gold aboard. The only thing he didn't know 
 was where the wreck was located. He knew it 
 was off Uruguay somewhere, but just where he 
 couldn't say. So he asked me if I knew, since 
 he must have concluded that I was going with 
 you on the gold-hunting expedition." 
 
CAPTAIN WESTON'S ADVENT 85 
 
 "And you do know, don't you?" asked Tom 
 eagerly. 
 
 "Well, I have it pretty accurately charted out, 
 if you will allow me that expression," was the 
 calm answer. "I took pains to look it up at the 
 request of Mr. Sharp." 
 
 "And he wanted to worm that information 
 out of you?" inquired the youth excitedly. 
 
 "Yes, I'm afraid he did." 
 
 "Did you give him the location ?" 
 
 "Well," remarked the captain, as he took an- 
 other observation before closing up the telescope, 
 "you see, while we were talking, I happened to 
 drop a copy of a map I'd made, showing the loca- 
 tion of the wreck. Mr. Berg picked it up to 
 hand to me, and he looked at it." 
 
 "Oh !" cried Tom. "Then he knows just where 
 the treasure is, and he may get to it ahead of us. 
 It's too bad." 
 
 "Yes," continued the seaman calmly, "Mr. 
 Berg picked up that map, and he looked very 
 closely at the latitude and longitude I had marked 
 as the location of the wreck." 
 
 "Then he won't have any trouble finding it," 
 murmured our hero. 
 
 "Eh? What's that?" asked the captain, "if I 
 may be permitted to request you to repeat what 
 you said." 
 
86 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 "I say he won't have any trouble locating the 
 sunken B older o" repeated Tom. 
 
 "Oh, but I think he will, if he depends on that 
 map," was the unexpected reply. "You see," ex- 
 plained Mr. Weston, "I'm not so simple as I look. 
 I sensed what Mr. Berg was after, the minute 
 he began to talk to me. So I fixed up a little 
 game on him. The map which I dropped on pur- 
 pose, not accidentally, where he would see it, did 
 have the location of the wreck marked. Only it 
 didn't happen to be the right location. It was. 
 about five hundred miles out of the way, and I 
 rather guess if Mr. Berg and his friends go there 
 for treasure they'll find considerable depth of 
 water and quite a lonesome spot. Oh, no, I'm 
 not as easy as I look, if you don't mind me men- 
 tioning that fact; and when a scoundrel sets out 
 to get the best of me, I generally try to turn the 
 tables on him. I've seen such men as Mr. Berg 
 before. I'm afraid, I'm very much afraid, the 
 sight he had of the fake map I made won't do 
 him much good. Well, I declare, it's past four 
 bells. Let's go to breakfast, if you don't mind me 
 asking you," and with that the captain started 
 off up the beach, Tom following, his ideas all iri 
 a whirl at the unlooked-for outcome of the 
 interview. 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
 TRIAL OF THE SUBMARINE 
 
 TOM felt such a relief at hearing of Captain 
 .Western's ruse that his appetite, sharpened by an 
 early breakfast and the sea air, came to him with 
 a rush, and he had a second morning meal with 
 the odd sea captain, who chuckled heartily when 
 he thought of how Mr. Berg had been deceived. 
 
 "Yes," resumed Captain Weston, over his 
 bacon and eggs, "I sized him up for a slick article 
 as soon as I laid eyes on him. But he evidently 
 misjudged me, if I may be permitted that term. 
 Oh, well, we may meet again, after we secure the 
 treasure, and then I can show him the real map 
 of the location of the wreck." 
 
 "Then you have it?" inquired the lad eagerly. 
 
 Captain Weston nodded, before hiding his face 
 behind a large cup of coffee; his third, by the 
 way. 
 
 "Let me see it ?" asked Tom quickly. 
 
 The captain set down his cup. He looked care- 
 87 
 
88 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 fully about the hotel dining-room. There were 
 several guests, who, like himself, were having a 
 late breakfast. 
 
 "It's a good plan," the sailor said slowly, "when 
 you're going into unknown waters, and don't want!, 
 to leave a wake for the other fellow to follow, 
 to keep your charts locked up. If it's all the same 
 to you," he added diffidently, "I'd rather wait 
 until we get to where your father and Mr. Sharp 
 are before displaying the real map. I've no ob- 
 jection to showing you the one Mr. Berg saw," 
 and again he chuckled. 
 
 The young inventor blushed at his indiscretion. 
 He felt that the news of the search for the treasure 
 had leaked out through him, though he was the 
 one to get on the trail of it by seeing the article 
 in the paper. Now he had nearly been guilty of 
 another break. He realized that he must be more 
 cautious. The captain saw his confusion, and 
 said: 
 
 "I know how it is. You're eager to get under 
 way. I don't blame you. I was the same myself 
 when I was your age. But we'll soon be at your 
 place, and then I'll tell you all I know. Sufficient, 
 now, to say that I believe I have located the wreck 
 within a few miles. I got on the track of a 
 sailor who had met one of the shipwrecked crew 
 of the Boldero, and he gave me valuable infer- 
 
TRIAL OF THE SUBMARINE 8gj 
 
 ination. Now tell me about the craft we are going 
 in. A good deal depends on that." 
 
 Tom hardly knew what to answer. He re- 
 called what Mr. Sharp had said about not want- 
 ing to tell Captain Weston, until the last moment, 
 that they were going in a submarine, for fear 
 the old seaman (for he was old in point of service 
 though not in years) might not care to risk an 
 under-water trip. Therefore Tom hesitated 
 Seeing it, Captain Weston remarked quietly: 
 
 "I mean, what type is your submarine ? Does 
 it go by compressed air, or water power?" 
 
 "How do you know it's a submarine?" asked 
 the young inventor quickly, and in some con- 
 fusion. 
 
 "Easy enough. When Mr. Berg thought he 
 was pumping me, I was getting a lot of infor- 
 mation from him. He told me about the sub- 
 marine his firm was building, and, naturally, he 
 mentioned yours. One thing led to another until 
 I got a pretty good idea of your craft. What do 
 you call it?" 
 
 "The Advance." 
 
 "Good name. I like it, if you don't mind me 
 speaking of it." 
 
 "We were afraid you wouldn't like it," com-* 
 mented Tom. 
 
 "What, the name?" 
 
90 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 "No, the idea of going in a submarine." 
 
 "Oh," and Captain Weston laughed. "Well, 
 it takes more than that to frighten me, if you'll 
 excuse the expression. I've always had a hank* 
 ering to go under the surface, after so many yeari 
 spent on top. Once or twice I came near going 
 under, whether I wanted to or not, in wrecks, but 
 I think I prefer your way. Now, if you're all 
 done, and don't mind me speaking of it, I think 
 we'll start for your place. We must hustle, for 
 Berg may yet get on our trail, even if he has 
 got the wrong route," and he laughed again. 
 
 It was no small relief to Mr. Swift and Mr. 
 Sharp to learn that Captain Weston had no ob- 
 jections to a submarine, as they feared he might 
 have. The captain, in his diffident manner, made 
 friends at once with the treasure-hunters, and he 
 and Mr. Damon struck up quite an acquaintance. 
 Tom told of his meeting with the seaman, and 
 the latter related, with much gusto, the story of 
 how he had fooled Mr. Berg. 
 
 "Well, perhaps you'd like to come and take a 
 look at the craft that is to be our home while 
 we're beneath the water," suggested Mr. Swift^ 
 and the sailor assenting, the aged inventor, with 
 much pride, assisted by Tom, pointed out on the 
 * Advance the features of interest. Captain Weston 
 
TRIAL OF THE SUBMARINE 91 
 
 gave hearty approval, making one or two minor 
 suggestions, which were carried out. 
 
 "And so you launch her to-morrow," he con- 
 cluded, when he had completed the inspection 
 "Well, I hope it's a success, if I may be per- 
 mitted to say so." 
 
 There were busy times around the machine shop 
 next day. So much secrecy had been maintained 
 that none of the residents, or visitors to the coast 
 resort, were aware that in their midst was such 
 a wonderful craft as the submarine. The last 
 touches were put on the under-water ship; the 
 ways, leading from the shop to the creek, were 
 well greased, and all was in readiness for the 
 launching. The tide would soon be at flood, and 
 then the boat would slide down the timbers (at 
 least, that was the hope of all), and would float 
 in the element meant to receive her. It was de- 
 cided that no one should be aboard when the 
 launching took place, as there was an element of 
 risk attached, since it was not known just how 
 buoyant the craft was. It was expected she would 
 float, until the filled tanks took her to the bottom, 
 but there was no telling. 
 
 "It will be flood tide now in ten minutes," re- 
 marked Captain Weston quietly, looking at his 
 watch. Then he took an observation through the 
 telescope. "No hostile ships hanging in the 
 
92 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 offing," he reported. "All is favorable, if you 
 don't mind me saying so," and he seemed afraid 
 lest his remark might give offense. 
 
 "Get ready," ordered Mr. Swift. "Tom, see 
 that the ropes are all clear," for it had been de- 
 cided to ease the Advance down into the water by 
 means of strong cables and windlasses, as the 
 creek was so narrow that the submarine, if 
 launched in the usual way, would poke her nose 
 into the opposite mud bank and stick there. 
 
 "All clear," reported the young inventor. 
 
 "High tide!" exclaimed the captain a moment 
 later, snapping shut his watch. 
 
 "Let go!" ordered Mr. Swift, and the vari- 
 ous windlasses manned by the inventor, Tom and 
 the others began to unwind their ropes. Slowly 
 the ship slid along the greased ways. Slowly she 
 approached the water. How anxiously they all 
 watched her ! Nearer and nearer her blunt nose, 
 with the electric propulsion plate and the auxiliary 
 propeller, came to the creek, the waters of which 
 were quiet now, awaiting the turn of the tide. 
 
 Now little waves lapped the steel sides. I* 
 was the first contact of the Advance with her 
 native element. 
 
 "Pay out the rope faster !" cried Mr. Swift. 
 
 The windlasses were turned more quickly. 
 Foot by foot the craft slid along until, with a 
 
TRIAL OF THE SUBMARINE 95 
 
 final rush, the stern left the ways and the suB- 
 marine was afloat. Now would come the test 
 Would she ride on an even keel, or sink out of 
 sight, or turn turtle ? They all ran to the water's 
 edge, Tom in the lead. 
 
 "Hurrah!" suddenly yelled the lad, trying to 
 stand on his head. "She floats! She's a suc- 
 cess! Come on! Let's get aboard!" 
 
 For, true enough, the Advance was riding like 
 a duck on the water. She had been proportioned 
 just right, and her lines were perfect. She rode 
 as majestically as did any ship destined to sail 
 on the surface, and not intended to do double 
 duty. 
 
 "Come on, we must moor her to the pier," di- 
 rected Mr. Sharp. "The tide will turn in a few 
 minutes and take her out to sea." 
 
 He and Tom entered a small boat, and soon 
 the submarine was tied to a small dock that had 
 been built for the purpose. 
 
 "Now to try the engine," suggested Mr. Swift, 
 who was almost trembling with eagerness; for 
 the completion of the ship meant much to him. 
 
 "One moment," begged Captain Weston. "If 
 you don't mind, I'll take an observation," he went 
 on, and he swept the horizon with his telescope. 
 "All clear," he reported. "I think we may go 
 aboard and make a trial trip." 
 
94 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 Little time was lost in entering the cabin and 
 engine-room, Garret Jackson accompanying the 
 party to aid with the machinery. It did not take 
 long to start the motors, dynamos and the big 
 gasolene engine that was the vital part of the 
 craft. A little water was admitted to the tanks 
 for ballast, since the food and other supplies were 
 not yet on board. The Advance now floated with 
 the deck aft of the conning tower showing about 
 two feet above the surface of the creek. Mr. 
 Swift and Tom entered the pilot house. 
 
 "Start the engines," ordered the aged inventor, 
 "and we'll try my new system of positive and 
 negative electrical propulsion." 
 
 There was a hum and whirr in the body of the 
 ship beneath the feet of Tom and his father. Cap- 
 tain Weston stood on the little deck near the 
 conning tower. 
 
 "All ready?" asked the youth through the 
 speaking tube to Mr. Sharp and Mr. Jackson in 
 the engine-room. 
 
 "All ready," came the answer. 
 
 Tom threw over the connecting lever, while his 
 father grasped the steering wheel. The Advance 
 shot forward, moving swiftly along, about half 
 submerged. 
 
 "She goes ! She goes !" cried Tom. 
 
 "She certainly does, if I may be permitted to 
 
TRIAL OF THE SUBMARINE 95 
 
 say so," was the calm contribution of Captain 
 Weston. "I congratulate you." 
 
 Faster and faster went the new craft. Mr. 
 Swift headed her toward the open sea, but stopped 
 just before passing out of the creek, as he was 
 not yet ready to venture into deep water. 
 
 "I want to test the auxiliary propellers," be 
 said. After a little longer trial of the electric 
 propulsion plates, which were found to work satis- 
 factorily, sending the submarine up and down the 
 creek at a fast rate, the screws, such as are used 
 on most submarines, were put into gear. They 
 did well, but were not equal to the plates, nor was 
 so much expected of them. 
 
 "I am perfectly satisfied," announced Mr. Swift 
 as he once more headed the boat to sea. "I think, 
 Captain Weston, you had better go below now." 
 
 "Why so?" 
 
 "Because I am going to completely submerge 
 the craft. Tom, close the conning tower door. 
 Perhaps you will come in here with us, Captam 
 Weston, though it will be rather a tight fit." 
 
 "Thank you, I will. I want to see how it feels 
 to be in a pilot house under water." 
 
 Tom closed the water-tight door of the con- 
 ning tower. Word was sent through the tube 
 to the engine-room that a more severe test of the 
 
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 ship was about to be made. The craft was now 
 outside the line of breakers and in the open sea. 
 
 "Is everything ready, Tom?" asked his father 
 in a quiet voice. 
 
 "Everything," replied the lad nervously, for the 
 Anticipation of being about to sink below the sur- 
 face was telling on them all, even on the calm, 
 old sea captain. 
 
 "Then open the tanks and admit the water," 
 ordered Mr. Swift. 
 
 His son turned a valve and adjusted some lev- 
 ers. There was a hissing sound, and the Advance 
 began sinking. She was about to dive beneath 
 the surface of the ocean, and those aboard her 
 were destined to go through a terrible experience 
 before she rose again. 
 
CHAPTER XI 
 
 ON THE OCEAN BED 
 
 LOWER and lower sank the submarine. There 
 was a swirling and foaming of the water as she 
 went down, caused by the air bubbles which the 
 craft carried with her in her descent. Only the 
 top of the conning tower was out of water now, 
 the ocean having closed over the deck and the 
 rounded back of the boat. Had any one been 
 watching they would have imagined that an ac- 
 cident was taking place. 
 
 In the pilot house, with its thick glass win- 
 dows, Tom, his father and Captain Weston looked 
 over the surface of the ocean, which every minute 
 was coming nearer and nearer to them. 
 
 "We'll be all under in a few seconds," spoke 
 Tom in a solemn voice, as he listened to the 
 water hissing into the tanks. 
 
 "Yes, and then we can see what sort of progress 
 we will make," added Mr. Swift. "Everything 
 is going fine, though/' he went on cheerfully. "I 
 believe I have a good boat." 
 
98 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 "There is no doubt of it in my mind," remarked 
 Captain Weston, and Tom felt a little disap- 
 pointed that the sailor did not shout out some 
 such expression as "Shiver my timbers!" or 
 "Keel-haul the main braces, there, you lubber!" 
 But Captain Weston was not that kind of a 
 sailor, though his usually quiet demeanor could 
 be quickly dropped on necessity, as Tom learned 
 kter. 
 
 A few minutes more and the waters closed over 
 the top of the conning tower. The Advance was 
 completely submerged. Through the thick glass 
 windows of the pilot house the occupants looked 
 out into the greenish water that swirled about 
 them; but it could not enter. Then, as the boat 
 went lower, the light from above gradually died 
 out, and the semi-darkness gave place to gloom. 
 
 "Turn on the electrics and the searchlight, 
 Tom," directed his father. 
 
 There was the click of a switch, and the con- 
 ning tower was flooded with light. But as this 
 had the effect of preventing the three from peer- 
 ing out into the water, just as one in a lighted 
 room cannot look out into the night, Tom shut 
 them off and switched on the great searchlight. 
 This projected its powerful beams straight ahead 
 and there, under the ocean, was a pathway of il- 
 lumination for the treasure-seekers. 
 
ON THE OCEAN BED 99 
 
 "Fine!" cried Captain Weston, with more en- 
 thusiasm than he had yet manifested. "That's 
 great, if you don't mind me mentioning it. How 
 deep are we?" 
 
 Tom glanced at a gage on the side of the pilot 
 tower. 
 
 "Only about sixty feet," he answered. 
 
 "Then don't go any deeper!" cried the captain 
 hastily. "I know these waters around here, and 
 that's about all the depth you've got You'll be 
 on the bottom in a minute." 
 
 "I intend to get on the bottom after a while/* 
 said Mr. Swift, "but not here. I want to try for 
 a greater distance under water before I come to 
 rest on the ocean's bed. But I think we are deep 
 enough for a test. Tom, close the tank intake 
 pipes and we'll see how the Advance will progress 
 when fully submerged." 
 
 The hissing stopped, and then, wishing to see 
 how the motors and other machinery would work, 
 the aged inventor and his son, accompanied by 
 Captain Weston, descended from the conning 
 tower, by means of an inner stairway, to the in- 
 terior of the ship. The submarine could be steered 
 and managed from below or above. She was now 
 floating about sixty-five feet below the surface of 
 the bay. 
 
 "Well, how do you like it?" asked Tom of Mr. 
 
100 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 Damon, as he saw his friend in an easy chair in 
 the living-room or main cabin of the craft, look- 
 ing out of one of the plate-glass windows on the 
 side. 
 
 "Bless my spectacles, it's the most wonderful 
 thing I ever dreamed of!" cried the queer char- 
 acter, as he peered at the mass of water before 
 him. "To think that I'm away down under the 
 surface, and yet as dry as a bone. Bless my 
 necktie, but it's great! What are we going to 
 do now?" 
 
 "Go forward," replied the young inventor. 
 
 "Perhaps I had better make an observation," 
 suggested Captain Weston, taking his telescope 
 from under his arm, where he had carried it 
 since entering the craft, and opening it. "We may 
 run afoul of something, if you don't mind me 
 mentioning such a disagreeable subject." Then, 
 as he thought of the impossibility of using his 
 glass under water, he closed it. 
 
 "I shall have little use for this here, I'm afraid/' 
 he remarked with a smile. "Well, there's some 
 consolation. We're not likely to meet many ships 
 in this part of the ocean. Other vessels are fond 
 enough of remaining on the surface. I fancy 
 we shall have the depths to ourselves, unless we 
 meet a Government submarine, and they are hard- 
 ly able to go as deep as we can. No, I guess we 
 
ON THE OCEAN BED ioi 
 
 won't ran into anything and I can put this glass 
 away." 
 
 "Unless we run into Berg and his crowd," sug- 
 gested Tom in a low voice. 
 
 "Ha! ha!" laughed Captain Weston, for he 
 did not want Mr. Swift to worry over the un- 
 scrupulous agent. "No, I don't believe we'll meet 
 them, Tom. I guess Berg is trying to work out 
 the longitude and latitude I gave him. I wish 
 I could see his face when he realizes that he's 
 been deceived by that fake map." 
 
 "Well, I hope he doesn't discover it too soon 
 and trail us," went on the lad. "But they're go- 
 ing to start the machinery now. I suppose you 
 and I had better take charge of the steering of 
 the craft. Dad will want to be in the engine- 
 room." 
 
 "All right," replied the captain, and he moved 
 forward with the lad to a small compartment, 
 shut off from the living-room, that served as a 
 pilot house when the conning tower was not used. 
 The same levers, wheels and valves were there 
 as up above, and the submarine could be man- 
 aged as well from there as from the other place. 
 
 "Is everything all right?" asked Mr. Swift as 
 he went into the engine-room, where Garret Jack- 
 son and Mr. Sharp were busy with oil cans. 
 
102 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 "Everything," replied the balloonist. "Are you 
 going to start now ?" 
 
 "Yes, we're deep enough for a speed trial. 
 We'll go out to sea, however, and try for a 
 lower depth record, as soon as there's enough, 
 water. Start the engine." 
 
 A moment later the powerful electric currents 
 were flowing into the forward and aft plates, and 
 the Advance began to gather way, forging 
 through the water. 
 
 "Straight ahead, out to sea, Tom," called his 
 father to him. 
 
 "Aye, aye, sir," responded the youth. 
 
 "Ha ! Quite seaman-like, if you don't mind a 
 reference to it," commented Captain Weston with 
 a smile. "Mind your helm, boy, for you don'f 
 want to poke her nose into a mud bank, or run 
 up on a shoal." 
 
 "Suppose you steer?" suggested the lad. "I'd 
 rather take lessons for a while." 
 
 "All right Perhaps it will be safer. I know 
 these waters from the top, though I can't say 
 as much for the bottom. However, I know where 
 the shoals are." 
 
 The powerful searchlight was turned, so as to 
 send its beams along the path which the sub- 
 marine was to follow, and then, as ske gathered 
 
ON THE OCEAN BED 103 
 
 speed, she shot ahead, gliding through the waters 
 like a fish. 
 
 Mr. Damon divided his time between the for- 
 ward pilot-room, the living-apartment, and the 
 place where Mr. Swift, Garret Jackson and Mr. 
 Sharp were working over the engines. Every few 
 minutes he would bless some part of himself, his 
 clothing, or the ship. Finally the old man settled 
 -down to look through the plate-glass windows in 
 the main apartment. 
 
 On and on went the submarine. She behaved 
 perfectly, and was under excellent control. Some- 
 times Tom, at the request of his father, would 
 send her toward the surface by means of the de- 
 flecting rudder. Then she would dive to the 
 bottom again. Once, as a test, she was sent 
 obliquely to the surface, her tower just emerging, 
 and then she darted downward again, like a por- 
 poise that had come up to roll over, and suddenly 
 concluded to seek the depths. In fact, had any 
 one seen the maneuver they would have imagined 
 the craft was a big fish disporting itself. 
 
 Captain Weston remained at Tom's side, giving 
 him instructions, and watching the compass in 
 order to direct the steering so as to avoid colli- 
 sions. For an hour or more the craft was sent 
 almost straight ahead at medium speed Then 
 
104 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 Mr. Swift, joining his son and the captain, re* 
 marked : 
 
 "How about depth of water here, Captain 
 Weston?" 
 
 "You've got more than a mile." 
 
 "Good! Then Fm going down to the bottom 
 of the sea ! Tom, fill the tanks still more." 
 
 "Aye, aye, sir," answered the lad gaily. "Now 
 for a new experience !" 
 
 "And use the deflecting rudder, also," advised 
 his father. "That will hasten matters." 
 
 Five minutes later there was a slight jar 
 noticeable. 
 
 "Bless my soul! What's that?" cried Mr. 
 Damon. "Have we hit something?" 
 
 "Yes," answered Tom with a smile. 
 
 "What, for gracious sake?" 
 
 "The bottom of the sea. We're on the bed <* 
 the ocean." 
 
CHAPTER XII 
 
 FOR A BREATH OF AIR 
 
 THEY could hardly realize it, yet the depth-gage 
 told the story. It registered a distance below the 
 surface of the ocean of five thousand seven hun- 
 dred feet a little over a mile. The Advance 
 had actually come to rest on the bottom of the 
 Atlantic. 
 
 "Hurrah !" cried Tom. "Let's get on the div- 
 ing suits, dad, and walk about on land under 
 water for a change." 
 
 "No," said Mr. Swift soberly. "We will hard- 
 ly have time for that now. Besides, the suits are 
 not yet fitted with the automatic air-tanks, and 
 we can't use them. There are still some things 
 to do before we start on our treasure cruise. But 
 I want to see how the plates are standing this 
 pressure." 
 
 The Advance was made with a triple hull, the 
 spaces between the layers of plates being filled 
 with a secret material, capable of withstanding 
 105 
 
106 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 enormous pressure, as were also the plates them- 
 selves. Mr. Swift, aided by Mr. Jackson and 
 Captain Weston, made a thorough examination, 
 and found that not a drop of water had leaked 
 in, nor was there the least sign that any of the, 
 plates had given way under the terrific strain. 
 
 "She's as tight as a drum, if you will allow 
 me to make that comparison," remarked Captain 
 Weston modestly. "I couldn't ask for a dryer 
 ship." 
 
 "Well, let's take a look around by means of 
 the searchlight and the observation windows, and 
 then we'll go back," suggested Mr. Swift. "It 
 will take about two days to get the stores and 
 provisions aboard and rig up the diving suits; 
 then we will start for the sunken treasure." 
 
 There were several powerful searchlights on 
 the Advance, so arranged that the bow, stern or 
 either side could be illuminated independently. 
 There were also observation windows near each 
 light 
 
 In turn the powerful rays were cast first at the 
 bow and then aft. In the gleams could be seen 
 the sandy bed of the ocean, covered with shells 
 of various kinds. Great crabs walked around on 
 their long, jointed legs, and Tom saw some lob- 
 sters that would have brought joy to the heart 
 of a fisherman. 
 
FOR A BREATH OF AIR 107 
 
 "Look at the big fish !" cried Mr. Damon sud 
 denly, and he pointed to some dark, shadowy 
 forms that swam up to the glass windows, evi- 
 dently puzzled by the light. 
 
 "Porpoises," declared Captain Weston briefly. 
 *A whole school of them." 
 
 The fish seemed suddenly to multiply, and soon 
 those in the submarine felt curious tremors run- 
 ning through the whole craft. 
 
 "The fish are rubbing up against it," cried Tom. 
 'They must think we came dows here to allow 
 them to scratch their backs on the steel plates." 
 
 For some time they remained on the bottom, 
 watching the wonderful sight of the fishes that 
 Swam all about them, 
 
 "Well, I think we may as well rise," announced 
 Mr. Swift, after they had been on the bottom 
 about an hour, moving here and there. "We 
 didn't bring any provisions, and I'm getting hun- 
 gry, though I don't know how the others of you 
 feel about it." 
 
 "Bless my dinner-plate, I could eat, too !" cried 
 Mr. Damon. "Go up, by all means. We'll get 
 enough of under-water travel once we start for 
 the treasure." 
 
 "Send her up, Tom," called his father. "I 
 want to make a few notes on some needed changes 
 and improvements." 
 
108 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 Tom entered the lower pilot house, and turned 
 the valve that opened the tanks. He also pulled 
 the lever that started the pumps, so that the water 
 ballast would be more quickly emptied, as that 
 would render the submarine buoyant, and she 
 would quickly shoot to the surface. To the sur- 
 prise of the lad, however, there followed no out- 
 rushing of the water. The Advance remained 
 stationary on the ocean bed. Mr. Swift looked 
 up from his notes. 
 
 "Didn't you hear me ask you to send her up, 
 Tom?" he inquired mildly. 
 
 "I did, dad, but something seems to be the 
 matter," was the reply. 
 
 "Matter? What do you mean?" and the aged 
 inventor hastened to where his son and Captain 
 Weston were at the wheels, valves and levers. 
 
 "Why, the tanks won't empty, and the pumps 
 don't seem to work." 
 
 "Let me try," suggested Mr. Swift, and he 
 pulled the various handles. There was no cor< 
 responding action of the machinery. 
 
 "That's odd," he remarked in a curious voice, 
 "Perhaps something has gone wrong with the 
 connections. Go look in the engine-room, and 
 ask Mr. Sharp if everything is all right there." 
 
 Tom made a quick trip, returning to report 
 
FOR A BREATH OF AIR 
 
 109 
 
 that the dynamos, motors and gas engine were 
 running perfectly. 
 
 "Try to work the tank levers and pumps from 
 the conning tower," suggested Captain Weston. 
 "Sometimes I've known the steam steering gear 
 to play tricks like that." 
 
 Tom hurried up the circular stairway into the 
 tower. He pulled the levers and shifted the valves 
 and wheels there. But there was no emptying 
 of the water tanks. The weight and pressure of 
 water in them still held the submarine on the 
 bottom of the sea, more than a mile from the sur- 
 face. The pumps in the engine-room were work- 
 ing at top speed, but there was evidently some- 
 thing wrong in the connections. Mr. Swift 
 quickly came to this conclusion. 
 
 "We must repair it at once," he said. "Tom, 
 come to the engine-room. You and I, with Mr. 
 Jackson and Mr. Sharp, will soon have it in shape 
 again." 
 
 "Is there any danger ?" asked Mr. Damon in a 
 perturbed voice. "Bless my soul, it's unlucky to 
 have an accident on our trial trip." 
 
 "Oh, we must expect accidents," declared Mr. 
 Swift with a smile. "This is nothing." 
 
 But it proved to be more difficult than he had 
 imagined to re-establish the connection between 
 the pumps and the tanks. The valves, too, had 
 
1 10 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 clogged or jammed, and as the pressure outside 
 the ship was so great, the water would not run 
 out of itself. It must be forced. 
 
 For an hour or more the inventor, his son and 
 the others, worked away. They could accom- 
 plish nothing. Tom looked anxiously at his 
 parent when the latter paused in his efforts. 
 
 "Don't worry," advised the aged inventor. "It's 
 got to come right sooner or Jater." 
 
 Just then Mr. Damon, who had been wander- 
 ing about the ship, entered the engine-room. 
 
 "Do you know," he said, "you ought to open 
 a window, or something." 
 
 "Why, what's the matter?" asked Tom quickly, 
 looking to see if the odd man was joking. 
 
 "Well, of course I don't exactly mean a win- 
 dow," explained Mr. Damon, "but we need fresk 
 air." 
 
 "Fresh air !" There was a startled note in Mr. 
 Swift's voice as he repeated the words. 
 
 "Yes, I can hardly breathe in the living-room, 
 and it's not much better here." 
 
 "Why, there ought to be plenty of fresh air," 
 went on the inventor. "It is renewed automatic- 
 ally." 
 
 Tom jumped up and looked at an indicator. 
 He uttered a startled cry. 
 
 "The air hasn't been changed in the last hour ! H 
 
FOR A BREATH OP AIR 
 
 he exclaimed. "It is bad. There's not enough 
 oxygen in it. I notice it, now that I've stopped 
 working. The gage indicates it, too. The auto- 
 matic air-changer must have stopped working. 
 I'll fix it." 
 
 He hurried to the machine which was de- 
 pended on to supply fresh air to the submarine. 
 
 "Why, the air tanks are empty !" the young in- 
 ventor cried. "We haven't anv more air except 
 what is in the ship now!" 
 
 "And we're rapidly breathing that up," added 
 Captain Weston solemnly. 
 
 "Can't you make more?" cried Mr. Damon. 
 "I thought you said you could make oxygea 
 aboard the ship." 
 
 "We can," answered Mr. Swift, "but I did not 
 bring along a supply of the necessary chemicals. 
 I did not think we would be submerged long 
 enough for that. But there should have been 
 enough in the reserve tank to last several days. 
 How about it, Tom?" 
 
 "It's all leaked out, or else it wasn't filled," 
 was the despairing answer. "All the air we 
 have is what's in the ship, and we can't make 
 more." 
 
 [The treasure-seekers looked at each other. It 
 an awful situation. 
 
112 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT s 
 
 'Then the only thing to do is to fix the ma- 
 chinery and rise to the surface/' said Mr. Sharp 
 simply. "We can have all the air we want, then." 
 
 "Yes, but the machinery doesn't seem possible 
 of being fixed," spoke Tom in a low voice. 
 
 "We must do it!" cried his father. 
 
 They set to work again with fierce energy, 
 laboring for their very lives. They all knew 
 that they could not long remain in the ship with- 
 out oxygen. Nor could they desert it to go to 
 the surface, for the moment they left the protec- 
 tion of the thick steel sides the terrible pressure 
 of the water would kill them. Nor were the diving 
 suits available. They must stay in the craft and 
 die a miserable death unless the machinery could 
 be repaired and the Advance sent to the surface. 
 The emergency expanding lifting tank was not 
 yet in working order. 
 
 More frantically they toiled, trying every de- 
 vice that was suggested to the mechanical minds 
 of Tom, his father, Mr. Sharp or Mr. Jackson, 
 to make the pumps work. But something was 
 wrong. More and more foul grew the air. They 
 were fairly gasping now. It was difficult 
 to breathe, to say nothing of working, in that 
 atmosphere. The thought of their terrible posi- 
 tion was in the minds of all. 
 
 "Oh, for one breath of fresh air!" cried Mr. 
 
FOR A BREATH OF AIR 113 
 
 Damon, who seemed to suffer more than any of 
 the others. Grim death was hovering around 
 them, imprisoned as they were on the ocean's bed, 
 over a mile from the surface. 
 
CHAPTER XIII 
 
 OFF FOR THE TREASURE 
 
 SUDDENLY Tom, after a moment's pause, seized 
 a wrench and began loosening some nuts. 
 
 "What are you doing?" asked his father faint- 
 ly, for he was being weakened by the vitiated 
 atmosphere. 
 
 "I'm going to take this valve apart," repri'ed 
 his son. "We haven't looked there for the trouble. 
 Maybe it's out of order." 
 
 He attacked the valve with energy, but his 
 hands soon lagged. The lack of oxygen was tell- 
 ing on him. He could no longer work quickly. 
 
 "I'll help," murmured Mr. Sharp thickly. He 
 took a wrench, but no sooner had he loosened one 
 nut than he toppled over. "I'm all in," he mur- 
 mured feebly. 
 
 "Is he dead?" cried Mr. Damon, himself 
 gasping. 
 
 "No, only fainted. But he soon will be dead, 
 and so will all of us, if we don't get fresh air," 
 
 114 
 
OFF FOR THE TREASURE 115 
 
 remarked Captain Weston. "Lie down on the 
 floor, every one. There is a little fairly good air 
 there. It's heavier than the air we've breathed, 
 and we can exist on it for a little longer. Poor 
 Sharp was so used to breathing the rarified air 
 of high altitudes that he can't stand this heavy 
 atmosphere." 
 
 Mr. Damon was gasping worse than ever, and 
 so was Mr. Swift. The balloonist lay an inert 
 heap on the floor, with Captain Weston trying 
 to force a few drops of stimulant down his throat 
 
 With a fierce determination in his heart, but 
 with fingers that almost refused to do his bidding, 
 Tom once more sought to open the big valve. 
 He felt sure the trouble was located there, as they 
 had tried to locate it in every other place without 
 avail. 
 
 "I'll help," said Mr. Jackson in a whisper. He, 
 too, was hardly able to move. 
 
 More and more devoid of oxygen grew the 
 air. It gave Tom a sense as if his head was 
 filled, and ready to burst with every breath he 
 drew. Still he struggled to loosen the nuts. 
 There were but four more now, and he took off 
 three while Mr. Jackson removed one. The young 
 inventor lifted off the valve cover, though it felt 
 like a ton weight to him. He gave a glance 
 inside. 
 
Il6 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 "Here's the trouble!" he murmured. "The 
 valve's clogged. No wonder it wouldn't work. 
 The pumps couldn't force the water out." 
 
 It was the work of only a minute to adjust the 
 valve. Then Tom and the engineer managed to 
 get the cover back on. 
 
 How they inserted the bolts and screwed the 
 nuts in place they never could remember clearly 
 afterward, but they managed it somehow, with 
 shaking, trembling hands and eyes that grew 
 more and more dim. 
 
 "Now start the pumps!" cried Tom faintly. 
 "The tanks will be emptied, and we can get to 
 the surface." 
 
 Mr. Sharp was still unconscious, nor was Mr. 
 Swift able to help. He lay with his eyes closed. 
 Garret Jackson, however, managed to crawl to the 
 engine-room, and soon the clank of machinery 
 told Tom that the pumps were in motion. The 
 lad staggered to the pilot house and threw the 
 levers over. An instant later there was the hiss- 
 ing of water as it rushed from the ballast tanks. 
 The submarine shivered, as though disliking to 
 leave the bottom of the sea, and then slowly rose. 
 As the pumps worked more rapidly, and the 
 sea was sent from the tank in great volumes, the 
 boat fairly shot to the surface. Tom was ready 
 
OFF FOR THE TREASURE 117 
 
 to open the conning tower and let in fresh air 
 as soon as the top was above the surface. 
 
 With a bound the Advance reached the top* 
 Tom frantically worked the worm gear that 
 opened the tower. In rushed the fresh, life-giving 
 air, and the treasure-hunters filled their lungs 
 with it. 
 
 And it was only just in time, for Mr. Sharp 
 was almost gone. He quickly revived, as did the 
 others, when they could breathe as much as they 
 wished of the glorious oxygen. 
 
 "That was a close call," commented Mr. Swift, 
 "We'll not go below again until I have provided 
 for all emergencies. I should have seen to the 
 air tanks and the expanding one before going 
 below. Well sail home on the surface now." 
 
 The submarine was put about and headed for 
 her dock. On the way she passed a small steamer, 
 and the passengers looked down in wonder at the 
 strange craft. 
 
 When the Advance reached the secluded creek 
 where she had been launched, her passengers had 
 fully recovered from their terrible experience, 
 though the nerves of Mr. Swift and Mr. Damon 
 Were not at ease for some days thereafter. 
 
 "I should never have made a submerged test 
 without making sure that we had a reserve supply 
 of air," remarked the aged inventor. "I will not 
 
jl8 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 be caught that way again. But I can't under- 
 stand how the pump valve got out of order/' 
 
 "Maybe some one tampered with it," suggested 
 Mr. Damon. "Could Andy Foger, any of the 
 Happy Harry gang, or the rival gold-seekers have 
 done it?" 
 
 "I hardly think so," answered Tom. "The 
 place has been too carefully guarded since Berg 
 and Andy once sneaked in. I think it was just 
 an accident, but I have thought of a plan whereby 
 such accidents can be avoided in the future. It 
 needs a simple device." 
 
 "Better patent it," suggested Mr. Sharp with a 
 smile. 
 
 "Maybe I will," replied the young inventor. 
 "But not now. We haven't time, if we intend 
 to get fitted out for our trip." 
 
 "No; I should say the sooner we started the 
 better," remarked Captain Weston. "That is, if 
 you don't mind me speaking about it," he added 
 gently, and the others smiled, for his diffident 
 comments were only a matter of habit. 
 
 The first act of the adventurers, after tying 
 the submarine at the dock, was to proceed with 
 the loading of the food and supplies. Tom and 
 Mr. Damon looked to this, while Mr. Swift and 
 Mr. Sharp made some necessary changes to the 
 machinery. The next day the young inventor at- 
 
OFF FOR THE TREASURE 119 
 
 tached his device to the pump valve, and the 
 loading of the craft was continued. 
 
 All was in readiness for the gold-seeking ex- 
 pedition a week later. Captain Weston had care- 
 fully charted the route they were to follow, and 
 it was decided to move along on the surface for 
 the first day, so as to get well out to sea before 
 submerging the craft. Then it would sink below 
 the surface, and run along under the water until 
 the wreck was reached, rising at times, as needed, 
 to renew the air supply. 
 
 With sufficient stores and provisions aboard to 
 last several months, if necessary, though they did 
 not expect to be gone more than sixty days at 
 most, the adventurers arose early one morning 
 and went down to the dock. Mr. Jackson was 
 not to accompany them. He did not care about a 
 submarine trip, he said, and Mr. Swift desired 
 him to remain at the seaside cottage and guard 
 the shops, which contained much valuable ma* 
 chinery. The airship was also left there. 
 
 "Well, are we all ready?" asked Mr. Swift of 
 the little party of gold-seekers, as they were about 
 to enter the conning tower hatchway of the sub- 
 marine. 
 
 "All ready, dad," responded his son. 
 
 "Then let's get aboard," proposed Captain 
 Weston. "But first let me take an observation." 
 
120 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 He swept the horizon with his telescope, and 
 Tom noticed that the sailor kept it fixed on one 
 particular spot for some time. 
 
 "Did you see anything?" asked the lad. 
 
 "Well, there is a boat lying off there," was thfr 
 answer. "And some one is observing us through 
 a glass. But I don't believe it matters. Probably 
 they're only trying to see what sort of an odd 
 fish we are." 
 
 "All aboard, then," ordered Mr. Swift, and 
 they went into the submarine. Tom and his 
 father, with Captain Weston, remained in the 
 conning tower. The signal was given, the elec- 
 tricity flowed into the forward and aft plates, and 
 the Advance shot ahead on the surface. 
 
 The sailor raised his telescope once more and 
 peered through a window in the tower. He ut- 
 tered an exclamation. 
 
 "What's the matter?" asked Tom. 
 
 "That other ship a small steamer is weigh- 
 ing anchor and seems to be heading this way," 
 was the reply. 
 
 "Maybe it's some one hired by Berg to follow 
 us and trace our movements," suggested Tom. 
 
 "If it is we'll fool them," added his father. 
 "Just keep an eye on them, captain, and I think 
 we can show them a trick or two in a fev* 
 minutes." 
 
OFF FOR THE TREASURE 121 
 
 Faster shot the Advance through the water. 
 She had started on her way to get the gold from 
 the sunken wreck, but already enemies were on 
 the trail of the adventurers, for the ship the 
 sailor had noticed was steaming after them. 
 
CHAPTER XIV) 
 
 IN THE DIVING SUITS 
 
 THERE was no doubt that the steamer was com* 
 ing after the submarine. Several observations 
 Captain Weston made confirmed this, and he re- 
 ported the fact to Mr. Swift. 
 
 "Well, we'll change our plans, then," said the 
 inventor. "Instead of sailing on the surface we'll 
 go below. But first let them get near so they 
 may have the benefit of seeing what we do. Tom, 
 go below, please, and tell Mr. Sharp to get every- 
 thing in readiness for a quick descent. J'll slow 
 up a bit now, and let them get nearer to us." 
 
 The speed of the submarine was reduced, and 
 ki a short time the strange steamer had over^ 
 hauled her, coming to within hailing distance. 
 
 Mr. Swift signaled for the machinery to stop, 
 and the submarine came to a halt on the surface, 
 bobbing about like a half-submerged bottle. The 
 inventor opened a bull's-eye in the tower, and 
 called to a man on the bridge of the steamer : 
 
 122 
 
rN THE DIVING SUITS 
 
 123 
 
 "What are you following- us for ?" 
 
 "Following you?" repeated the man, for the 
 strange vessel had also come to a stop. "We're 
 not following you." 
 
 "It looks like it," replied Mr. Swift. You'd 
 better give it up." 
 
 "I guess the waters are free," was the quick 
 retort. "We'll follow you if we like." 
 
 "Will you ? Then come on !" cried the inventor 
 as he quickly closed the heavy glass window and 
 pulled a lever. An instant later the submarine 
 began to sink, and Mr. Swift could not help laugh- 
 ing as, just before the tower went under water, 
 he had a glimpse of the astonished face of the 
 man on the bridge. The latter had evidently not 
 expected such a move as that. 
 
 Lower and lower in the water went the craft, 
 until it was about two hundred feet below the 
 surface. Then Mr. Swift left the conning tower, 
 descended to the main part of the ship, and asked 
 Tom and Captain Weston to take charge of the 
 pilot house. 
 
 "Send her ahead, Tom," his father said. "That 
 fellow up above is rubbing his eyes yet, wondering 
 where we are, I suppose." 
 
 Forward shot the Advance under witer, the 
 powerful electrical plates pulling and pushing her 
 on the way to secure the sunken gold. 
 
124 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 All that morning a fairly moderate rate of 
 speed was maintained, as it was thought best not 
 to run the new machinery too fast. 
 
 Dinner was eaten about a quarter of a mile 
 below the surface, but no one inside the submarine 
 would ever have known it. Electric lights made 
 the place as brilliant as could be desired, and 
 the food, which Tom and Mr. Damon prepared, 
 was equal to any that could have been served 
 on land. After the meal they opened the shut' 
 ters over the windows in the sides of the craft, 
 and looked at the myriads of fishes swimming 
 past, as the creatures were disclosed in the glare 
 of the searchlight. 
 
 That night they were several hundred miles 
 on their journey, for the craft was speedy, and 
 leaving Tom and Captain Weston to take the first 
 watch, the others went to bed. 
 
 "Bless my soul, but it does seem odd, though, 
 to go to bed under water, like a fish," remarked 
 Mr. Damon. "If my wife knew this she would 
 worry to death. She thinks I'm off automobiling. 
 But this isn't half as dangerous as riding in a 
 car that's always getting out of order. A sub* 
 marine for mine, every time." 
 
 "Wait until we get to the end of this trip/' 
 advised Tom. "I guess you'll find almost as many 
 things can happen in a submarine as can in an 
 
IN THE DIVING SUITS 125 
 
 auto," and future events were to prove the young 
 inventor to be right. 
 
 Everything worked well that night, and the 
 ship made good progress. They rose to the sur- 
 face the next morning to make sure of their 
 position, and to get fresh air, though they did 
 not really need the latter, as the reserve supply 
 had not been drawn on, and was sufficient for 
 several days, now that the oxygen machine had 
 been put in running order. 
 
 On the second day the ship was sent to the 
 bottom and halted there, as Mr. Swift wished 
 to try the new diving suits. These were made of 
 a new, light, but very strong metal to withstand 
 the pressure of a great depth. 
 
 Tom, Mr. Sharp and Captain Weston donned 
 the suits, the others agreeing to wait until they 
 saw how the first trial resulted. Then, too, it 
 was necessary for some one acquainted with the 
 machinery to remain in the ship to operate the 
 door and water chamber through which the divers 
 had to pass to get out. 
 
 The usual plan, with some changes, was fol- 
 lowed in letting the three out of the boat, and 
 on to the bottom of the sea. They entered a 
 chamber in the side of the submarine, water was 
 gradually admitted until it equaled in pressure 
 
126 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 that outside, then an outer door was opened by 
 means of levers, and they could step out. 
 
 It was a curious sensation to Tom and the 
 * others to feel that they were actually walking 
 along the bed of the ocean. All around them was 
 the water, and as they turned on the small elec- 
 teic lights in their helmets, which lights were fed 
 by storage batteries fastened to the diving suits, 
 they saw the fish, big and little, swarm up to 
 them, doubtless astonished at the odd creatures 
 which had entered their domain. On the sand of 
 the bottom, and in and out among the shells and 
 rocks, crawled great spider crabs, big eels and 
 other odd creatures seldom seen on the surface 
 of the water. The three divers found no difficulty 
 in breathing, as there were air tanks fastened to 
 their shoulders, and a constant supply of oxygen 
 was fed through pipes into the helmets. The pres- 
 sure of water did not bother them, and after 
 the first sensation Tom began to enjoy the novelty 
 of it. At first the inability to speak to his com- 
 panions seemed odd, but he soon got so he could 
 <nake signs and motions, and be understood. 
 
 They walked about for some time, and once 
 the lad came upon a part of a wrecked vessel 
 buried deep in the sand. There was no telling 
 what ship it was, nor how long it had been there, 
 and after silently viewing it. thev continued on. 
 
IN THE DIVING SUITS 
 
 **It was great !" were the first words Tom ut- 
 tered when he and the others were once more 
 inside the submarine and had removed the suits. 
 **If we can only walk around the wreck of the 
 Boldero that way, we'll have all the gold out o.. 
 her in no time. There are no life-lines nor air- 
 hose to bother with in these diving suits." 
 
 "They certainly are a success," conceded Mr* 
 Sharp. 
 
 "Bless my topknot!" cried Mr. Damon. 'Til 
 try it next time. I've always wanted to be a 
 diver, and now I have the chance." 
 
 The trip was resumed after the diving chamber 
 had been closed, and on the third day Captain 
 Weston announced, after a look at his chart, 
 that they were nearing the Bahama Islands. 
 
 "We'll have to be careful not to run into any 
 of the small keys," he said, that being the name 
 for the many little points of land, hardly large 
 enough to be dignified by the name of island. 
 "We must keep a constant lookout." 
 
 Fortune favored them, though once, when Tom 
 was steering, he narrowly evoided ramming a 
 coral reef with the submarine. The searchlight 
 showed it to him just in time, and he sheered off 
 with a thumping in his heart. 
 
 The course was changed from south to east, 
 so as to get ready to swing out of the way of the 
 
128 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 big shoulder of South America where Brazil takes 
 up so much room, and as they went farther and 
 farther toward the equator, they noticed that the 
 waters teemed more and more with fish, some 
 beautiful, some ugly and fear-inspiring, and some 
 such monsters that it made one shudder to look 
 at them, even through the thick glass of the 
 bull's-eye windows. 
 
CHAPTER XV 
 
 AT THE TROPICAL ISLAND 
 
 IT was on the evening of the fourth day late*' 
 that Captain Weston, who was steering the craft, 
 suddenly called out: 
 
 "Land ho!" 
 
 "Where away ?" inquired Tom quickly, for he 
 had read that this was the proper response to 
 make. 
 
 "Dead ahead," answered the sailor with a smile. 
 "Shall we make for it, if I may be allowed the 
 question ?" 
 
 "What land is it likely to be?" Mr. Swift 
 Wanted to know. 
 
 "Oh, some small tropical island," replied the 
 seafaring man. "It isn't down on the charts. 
 Probably it's too small to note. I should say it 
 was a coral island, but we may be able to find a 
 spring of fresh water there, and some fruit." 
 
 "Then we'll land there," decided the inventor. 
 129 
 
I 3 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 "We can use some fresh water, though our dis- 
 tilling and ice apparatus does very well." 
 
 They made the island just at dusk, and an- 
 chored in a little lagoon, where there was a good 
 depth of water. 
 
 "Now for shore !" cried Tom, as the submarine 
 swung around on the chain. "It looks like a 
 fine place. I hope there are cocoanuts and 
 oranges here. Shall I get out the electric launch, 
 dad?" 
 
 "Yes, you may, and we'll all go ashore. It 
 will do us good to stretch our legs a bit." 
 
 Carried in a sort of pocket on the deck of the 
 submarine was a small electric boat, capable of 
 holding six. It could be slid from the pocket, or 
 depression, into the water without the use of 
 davits, and, with Mr. Sharp to aid him, Tom soon 
 had the little craft afloat. The batteries were 
 already charged, and just as the sun was going 
 down the gold-seekers entered the launch and 
 Were soon on shore. 
 
 They found a good spring of water close at 
 'hand, and Tom's wish regarding the cocoanuts 
 was realized, though there were no oranges. The 
 lad took several of the delicious nuts, and break- 
 ing them open poured the milk into a collapsible 
 cup he carried, drinking it eagerly. The others 
 
AT THE TROPICAL ISLAND 131 
 
 followed his example, and pronounced it the best 
 beverage they had tasted in a long time. 
 
 The island was a typical tropical one, not very 
 large, and it did not appear to have been often 
 visited by man. There were no animals to be 
 seen, but myriads of birds flew here and there 
 amid the trees, the trailing vines and streamers 
 of moss. 
 
 "Let's spend a day here to-morrow and explore 
 it," proposed Tom, and his father nodded an 
 assent. They went back to the submarine as 
 night was beginning to gather, and in the cabin, 
 after supper, talked over the happenings of their 
 trip so far. 
 
 "Do you think we'll have any trouble getting 
 the gold out of the wrecked vessel?" asked Tom 
 of Captain Weston, after a pause. 
 
 "Well, it's hard to say. I couldn't learn just 
 how the wreck lays, whether it's on a sandy or a 
 rocky bottom. If the latter, it won't be so hard, 
 but if the sand has worked in and partly covered 
 it, we'll have some difficulties, if I may be per- 
 mitted to say so. However, don't borrow trouble. 
 We're not there yet, though at the rate we're trav-f 
 eling it won't be long before we arrive." 
 
 No watch was set thaf night, as it was not 
 considered necessary. Tom was the first to arise 
 
132 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 in the morning, and he went out on the deck for 
 a breath of fresh air before breakfast. 
 
 He looked off at the beautiful little island, and 
 as his eye took in all of the little lagoon where 
 the submarine was anchored he uttered a startled 
 cry. 
 
 And well he might, for, not a hundred yards 
 away, and nearer to the island than was the 
 ^Advance, floated another craft another craft, 
 almost similar in shape and size to the one built 
 by the Swifts. Tom rubbed his eyes to make sure 
 he was not seeing double. No, there could be 
 no mistake about it. There was another sub- 
 marine at the tropical island. 
 
 As he looked, some one emerged from the 
 conning tower of the second craft. The figure 
 seemed strangely familiar. Tom knew in a mo- 
 ment who it was Addison Berg. The agent 
 saw the lad, too, and taking off his cap and 
 making a mocking bow, he called out: 
 
 "Good morning! Have you got the gold yet?" 
 
 Tom did not know what to answer. Seeing 
 the other submarine, at an island where he had 
 supposed they would not be disturbed, was dis- 
 concerting enough, but to be greeted by Berg was 
 altogether too much, Tom thought. His fears 
 that the rival boat builders would follow had not 
 been without foundation. 
 
AT THE TROPICAL ISLAND 133 
 
 "Rather surprised to see us, aren't you?" went 
 Dn Mr. Berg, smiling. 
 
 "Rather," admitted Tom, choking over the 
 Word. 
 
 "Thought you'd be," continued Berg. "We 
 8idn't expect to meet you so soon, but we're glad 
 we did. I don't altogether like hunting for sunken 
 treasure, with such indefinite directions as I have." 
 
 "You are going to " stammered Tom, 
 
 and then he concluded it would be best not to 
 say anything. But his talk had been heard in- 
 side the submarine. His father came to the foot 
 of the conning tower stairway. 
 
 "To whom are you speaking, Tom ?" he asked. 
 
 "They're here, dad," was the youth's answer. 
 
 "Here? Who are here?" 
 
 u Berg and his employers. They've followed 
 us, dad." 
 
CHAPTER XVI 
 "WE'LL RACE YOU FOR IT" 
 
 MR. SWIFT hurried up on deck. He was ac- 
 companied by Captain Weston. At the sight of 
 Tom's father, Mr. Berg, who had been joined by 
 two other men, called out : 
 
 "You see we also concluded to give up the 
 trial for the Government prize, Mr. Swift. We 
 decided there was more money in something else. 
 But we still will have a good chance to try the 
 merits of our respective boats. We hurried and 
 got ours fitted up almost as soon as you did yours, 
 and I think we have the better craft." 
 
 "I don't care to enter into any competition with 
 you," said Mr. Swift coldly. 
 
 "Ah, but I'm afraid you'll have to, whether 
 you want to or not," was the insolent reply. 
 
 "What's that? Do you mean to force this 
 matter upon me?" 
 
 "I'm afraid I'll have to my employers and I, 
 that is. You see, we managed to pick up your 
 
 134 
 
"WE'LL RACE YOU FOR ITT 
 
 trail after you left the Jersey coast, having an 
 idea where you were bound, and we don't intend 
 to lose you now." 
 
 "Do you mean to follow us?" asked Captain 
 Weston softly. 
 
 "Well, you can put it that way if you like," 
 answered one of the two men with Mr. Berg. 
 
 "I forbid it!" cried Mr. Swift hotly. "You 
 have no right to sneak after us." 
 
 "I guess the ocean is free," continued the ras- 
 cally agent. 
 
 "Why do you persist in keeping after us?" 
 inquired the aged inventor, thinking it well to 
 ascertain, if possible, just how much the men 
 knew." - 
 
 "Because we're after that treasure as well as 
 you," was the bold reply. "You have no ex- 
 clusive right to it. The sunken ship is awaiting 1 
 the first comer, and whoever gets there first can 
 take the gold from the wreck. We intend to be 
 there first, but we'll be fair with you." 
 
 "Fair ? What do you mean ?" demanded Tom. 
 
 "This : We'll race you for it. The first one 
 to arrive will have the right to search the wreck 
 for the gold bullion. Is that fair ? Do you agree 
 to it?" 
 
 "We agree to nothing with you," interrupted 
 Captain Weston, his usual diffident manner all 
 
136 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 gone. "I happen to be in partial command of this 
 craft, and I warn you that if I find you interfer- 
 ing with us it won't be healthy for you. I'm 
 not fond of righting, but when I begin I don't 
 like to stop," and he smiled grimly. "You'd better 
 not follow us." 
 
 "We'll do as we please," shouted the third 
 member of the trio on the deck of the other boat, 
 which, as Tom could see, was named the Wonder. 
 "We intend to get that gold if we can," 
 
 "All right. I've warned you," went on the 
 sailor, and then, motioning to Tom and his father 
 to follow, he went below. 
 
 "Well, what's to be done?" asked Mr. Swift 
 when they were seated in the living-room, and 
 had informed the others of the presence of the 
 rival submarine. 
 
 "The only thing I see to do is to sneak away 
 unobserved, go as deep as possible, and make all 
 haste for the wreck," advised the captain. "They 
 will depend on us, for they have evidently no 
 chart of the wreck, though of course the general 
 location of it may be known to them from read- 
 ing the papers. I hoped I had thrown them oft 
 the track by the false chart I dropped, but it 
 eems they were too smart for us." 
 
 "Have they a right to follow us ?" asked Tom. 
 
 "Legally, but not morally. We can't prevent 
 
"WE'LL RACE YOU FOR IT!" 137 
 
 them, I'm afraid. The only thing to do is to 
 get there ahead of them. It will be a race for 
 the sunken treasure, and we must get there first." 
 
 "What do you propose doing, captain?" asked 
 Mr. Damon. "Bless my shirt-studs, but can't we 
 pull their ship up on the island and leave it 
 there?" 
 
 "I'm afraid such high-handed proceedings 
 would hardly answer," replied Mr. Swift. "No, 
 as Captain Weston says, we must get there ahead 
 of them. What do you think will be the best 
 scheme, captain?" 
 
 "Well, there's no need for us to forego our 
 plan to get fresh water. Suppose we go to the 
 island, that is, some of us, leaving a guard on 
 board here. We'll fill our tanks with fresh water, 
 and at night we'll quietly sink below the surface 
 and speed away." 
 
 They all voted that an excellent idea, and little 
 time was lost putting it into operation. 
 
 All the remainder of that day not a sign of 
 life was visible about the Wonder. She lay inert 
 On the surface of the lagoon, not far away from 
 the Advance; but, though no one showed himself 
 on the deck, Tom and his friends had no doubt 
 but that their enemies were closely watching them. 
 
 As dusk settled down over the tropical sea, and 
 as the shadows of the trees on the little island 
 
138 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 lengthened, those on board the Advance closed 
 the conning tower. No lights were turned on, 
 as they did not want their movements to be seen, 
 but Tom, his father and Mr. Sharp took their 
 positions near the various machines and apparatus, 
 ready to open the tanks and let the submarine 
 sink to the bottom, as soon as it was possible to 
 do this unobserved. 
 
 "Luckily there's no moon," remarked Captain 
 Weston, as he took his place beside Tom. "Once 
 below the surface and we can defy them to find 
 us. It is odd how they traced us, but I suppose 
 that steamer gave them the clue." 
 
 It rapidly grew dark, as it always does in the 
 tropics, and when a cautious observation from 
 the conning tower did not disclose the outlines of 
 the other boat, those aboard the Advance rightly 
 concluded that their rivals were unable to see 
 them. 
 
 "Send her down, Tom," called his father, and 
 with a hiss the water entered the tanks. The 
 submarine quickly sank below the surface, aided 
 by the deflecting rudder. 
 
 But alas for the hopes of the gold-seekers. No 
 sooner was she completely submerged, with the 
 engine started so as to send her out of the lagoon 
 and to the open sea, than the waters all about 
 were made brilliant by the phosphorescent phe- 
 
'WE'LL RACE YOU FOR IT!" 139 
 
 nomenon. In southern waters this frequently 
 occurs. Millions of tiny creatures, which, it is 
 said, swarm in the warm currents, give an ap- 
 pearance of fire to the ocean, and any object mov- 
 ing through it can plainly be seen. It was so 
 with the Advance. The motion she made in 
 shooting forward, and the undulations caused by 
 her submersion, seemed to start into activity the 
 dormant phosphorus, and the submarine was afloat 
 in a sea of fire. 
 
 "Quick !" cried Tom. "Speed her up ! Maybe 
 we can get out of this patch of water before they 
 
 see us." 
 
 But it was too late. Above them they could 
 hear the electric siren of the Wonder as it was 
 blown to let them know that their escape had 
 been noticed. A moment later the water, which 
 acted as a sort of sounding-board, or telephone, 
 brought to the ears of Tom Swift and his friends 
 the noise of the engines of the other craft in 
 operation. She was coming after them. The 
 race for the possession of three hundred thou- 
 sand dollars in gold was already under way. 
 Fate seemed against those on board the Advance. 
 
CHAPTER XVII 
 
 THE RACE 
 
 DIRECTED by Captain Weston, who glanced at 
 the compass and told him which way to steer to 
 clear the outer coral reef, Tom sent the submarine 
 ahead, signaling for full speed to the engine- 
 room, where his father and Mr. Sharp were. The 
 big dynamos purred like great cats, as they sent 
 the electrical energy into the forward and aft 
 plates, pulling and pushing the Advance forward. 
 On and on she rushed under water, but ever as 
 she shot ahead the disturbance in the phosphor- 
 escent water showed her position plainly. She 
 would be easy to follow. 
 
 "Can't you get any more speed out of her?," 
 asked the captain of the lad. 
 
 "Yes," was the quick reply; "by using the 
 auxiliary screws I think we can. I'll try it." 
 
 He signaled for the propellers, forward and 
 aft, to be put in operation, and the motor moving 
 the twin screws was turned on. At once there 
 
 140 
 
THE RACE 141 
 
 was a perceptible increase to the speed of the 
 ^Advance. 
 
 "Are we leaving them behind?" asked Tom 
 anxiously, as he glanced at the speed gage, and 
 noted that the submarine was now about five 
 hundred feet below the surface. 
 
 "Hard to tell," replied the captain. "You'd 
 have to take an observation to make sure." 
 
 "I'll do it," cried the youth. "You steer, please, 
 and I'll go in the conning tower. I can look 
 forward and aft there, as well as straight up. 
 Maybe I can see the Wonder" 
 
 Springing up the circular ladder leading into 
 the tower, Tom glanced through the windows all 
 about the small pilot house. He saw a curious 
 sight. It was as if the submarine was in a sea 
 of yellowish liquid fire. She was immersed in 
 water which glowed with the flames that con- 
 tained no heat. So light was it, in fact, that 
 there was no need of the incandescents in the 
 tower. The young inventor could have seen to 
 read a paper by the illumination of the phosphorus. 
 But he had something else to do than observe this < 
 phenomenon. He wanted to see if he could catch' 
 sight of the rival submarine. 
 
 At first he could make out nothing save the 
 swirl and boiling of the sea, caused by the prog- 
 ress of the Advance through it. But suddenly, 
 
142 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 as he looked up, he was aware of some great, 
 black body a little to the rear and about ten feet 
 above his craft. 
 
 "A shark !" he exclaimed aloud. "An immense 
 Dne, too." 
 
 But the closer he looked the kss it seemed like 
 a shark The position of the black object changed. 
 It appeared to settle down, to be approaching the 
 top of the conning tower. Then, with a sudden- 
 ness that unnerved him for the time being, Tom 
 recognized what it was; it was the underside of 
 a ship. He could see the plates riveted together, 
 and then, as he noted the rounded, cylindrical 
 shape, he knew that it was a submarine. It was 
 the Wonder. She was close at hand and was 
 creeping up on the Advance. But, what was more 
 dangerous, she seemed to be slowly settling in 
 the water. Another moment and her great screws 
 might crash into the conning tower of the Swifts' 
 boat and shave it off. Then the water would 
 rush in, drowning the treasure-seekers like rats 
 in a trap. 
 
 With a quick motion Tom yanked over the 
 lever that allowed more water to flow into the 
 ballast tanks. The effect was at once apparent. 
 The Advance shot down toward the bottom of 
 the sea. At the same time the young inventor 
 signaled to Captain Weston to notify those in 
 
THE RACE 143 
 
 the engine-room to put on a little more speed. 
 The Advance fairly leaped ahead, and the lad, 
 looking up through the bull's-eye in the roof of 
 the conning tower, had the satisfaction of seeing 
 the rival submarine left behind. 
 
 The youth hurried down into the interior of 
 the ship to tell what he had seen, and explain 
 me reason for opening the ballast tanks. He 
 found his father and Mr. Sharp somewhat ex- 
 cited over the unexpected maneuver of the craft. 
 
 "So they're still following us," murmured Mr. 
 Swift. "I don't see why we can't shake them 
 off." 
 
 "It's on account of this luminous water," ex- 
 plained Captain Weston. "Once we are clear of 
 that it will be easy, I think, to give them the 
 slip. That is, if we can get out of their sight 
 long enough. Of course, if they keep close after 
 us, they can pick us up with their searchlight, for 
 I suppose they carry one." 
 
 "Yes," admitted the aged inventor, "they have 
 as strong a one as we have. In fact, their ship 
 is second only to this one in speed and power. 
 I know, for Bentley & Eagert showed me some 
 of the plans before they started it, and asked my 
 opinion. This was before I had the notion of 
 building a submarine. Yes, I am afraid we'll 
 have trouble getting away from them." 
 
144 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 "I can't understand this phosphorescent glow 
 keeping up so long," remarked Captain Weston. 
 "I've seen it in this locality several times, but it 
 never covered such an extent of thf. ocean in my 
 time. There must be changed conditions here 
 
 now." 
 
 For an hour or more the race was kept up, and 
 the two submarines forged ahead through the 
 glowing sea. The Wonder remained slightly 
 above and to the rear of the other, the better to 
 keep sight of her, and though the Advance was 
 run to her limit of speed, her rival could not be 
 shaken off. Clearly the Wonder was a speedy 
 craft. 
 
 "It's too bad that we've got to fight them, as 
 well as run the risk of lots of other troubles 
 which are always present when sailing under 
 water," observed Mr. Damon, who wandered 
 about the submarine like the nervous person he 
 was. "Bless my shirt-studs ! Can't we blow them 
 up, or cripple them in some way? They have no 
 right to go after our treasure." 
 
 "Well, I guess they've got as much right as 
 we have," declared Tom. "It goes to whoever 
 reaches the wreck first. But what I don't like 
 is their mean, sneaking way of doing it. If they 
 went off on their own hook and looked for it I 
 wouldn't say a word. But they expect us to lead 
 
THE RACE 145 
 
 them to the wreck, and then they'll rob us if they 
 can. That's not fair." 
 
 "Indeed, it isn't/' agreed Captain Weston, "if 
 I may be allowed the expression. We ought to 
 find some way of stopping them. But, if I'm 
 not mistaken/' he added quickly, looking from 
 one of the port bull's-eyes, "the phosphorescent 
 glow is lessening. I believe we are running be- 
 yond that part of the ocean." 
 
 There was no doubt of it, the glow was grow- 
 ing less and less, and ten minutes later the 
 ^Advance was speeding along through a sea as 
 black as night. Then, to avoid running into some 
 wreck, it was necessary to turn on the search- 
 light. 
 
 "Are they still after us ?" asked Mr. Swift of 
 his son, as he emerged from the engine-room, 
 where he had gone to make some adjustments to 
 the machinery, with the hope of increasing the 
 speed. 
 
 "I'll go look," volunteered the lad. He climbed 
 up into the conning tower again, and for a mo- 
 ment, as he gazed back into the black waters, 
 swirling all about, he hoped that they had lost\ 
 the Wonder. But a moment later his heart sank 
 as he caught sight, through the liquid element, 
 of the flickering gleams of another searchlight, 
 the rays undulating through the sea. / 
 
146 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 "Still following," murmured the young in- 
 ventor. "They're not going to give up. But we 
 must make 'em that's all." 
 
 He went down to report what he had seen, and 
 a consultation was held. Captain Weston care- 
 fully studied the charts of that part of the ocean, 
 and rinding that there was a great depth of water 
 at hand, proposed a series of evolutions. 
 
 "We can go up and down, shoot first to one 
 side and then to the other," he explained. "We 
 can even drop down to the bottom and rest there 
 for a while. Perhaps, in that way, we can shake 
 them off." 
 
 They tried it. The Advance was sent up until 
 her conning tower was out of the water, and then 
 she was suddenly forced down until she was but 
 a few feet from the bottom. She darted to the 
 left, to the right, and even doubled and went back 
 over the course she had taken. But all to no 
 purpose. The Wonder proved fully as speedy, 
 and those in her seemed to know just how to 
 handle the submarine, so that every evolution of 
 the Advance was duplicated. Her rival could not 
 be shaken off. 
 
 All night this was kept up, and when morning 
 came, though only the clocks told it, for eternal 
 night was below the surface, the rival gold-seekers 
 were still on the trail. 
 
THE RACE 147 
 
 "They won't give up," declared Mr. Swift 
 hopelessly. 
 
 "No, weVe got to race them for it, just as 
 Berg proposed/' admitted Tom. "But if they 
 want a straightaway race we'll give it to 'em 
 Let's run her to the limit, dad." 
 
 "That's what we've been doing, Tom." 
 
 "No, not exactly, for we've been submerged a 
 little too much to get the best speed out of our 
 craft Let's go a little nearer the surface, and 
 give them the best race they'll ever have." 
 
 Then the race began; and such a contest of 
 speed as it was! With her propellers working 
 to the limit, and every volt of electricity that 
 was available forced into the forward and aft 
 plates, the Advance surged through the water, 
 about ten feet below the surface. But the Wonder 
 kept after her, giving her knot for knot. The 
 course of the leading submarine was easy to trace 
 now, in the morning light which penetrated ten 
 feet down. 
 
 "No use," remarked Tom again, when, after 
 two hours, the Wonder was still close behind 
 them. "Our only chance is that they may have 
 a breakdown." 
 
 "Or run out of air, or something like that," 
 added Captain Weston. "They are crowding us 
 pretty close. I had no idea they could keep up 
 
148 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 this speed. If they don't look out," he went on 
 as he looked from one of the aft observation win- 
 dows, "they'll foul us, and " 
 
 His remarks were interrupted by a jar to the 
 Advance. She seemed to shiver and careened to 
 one side. Then came another bump. 
 
 "Slow down !" cried the captain, rushing toward 
 the pilot house. 
 
 "What's the matter?" asked Tom, as he threw 
 the engines and electrical machines out of gear. 
 Have we hit anything?" 
 
 "No. Something has hit us," cried the captain. 
 "Their submarine has rammed us." 
 
 "Rammed us!" repeated Mr. Swift. "Tom, 
 run out the electric cannon! They're trying to 
 sink us! We'll have to fight them. Run out 
 the stern electric gun and we'll make them wish 
 they'd not followed us !" 
 
CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 THE ELECTRIC GUN 
 
 THERE was much excitement aboard the 
 Advance. The submarine came to a stop in the 
 water, while the treasure-seekers waited anxiously 
 for what was to follow. Would they be rammed 
 again? This time, stationary as they were, and 
 with the other boat coming swiftly on, a hole 
 might be stove through the Advance, in spite of 
 her powerful sides. 
 
 They had not long to wait. Again there came 
 a jar, and once more the Swifts' boat careened. 
 But the blow was a glancing one and, fortunately, 
 did little damage. 
 
 "They certainly must be trying to sink us," 
 agreed Captain Weston. "Come, Tom, we'll take 
 a look from the stern and see what they're up 
 to." 
 
 "And get the stern electric gun ready to fire," 
 repeated Mr. Swift. "We must protect ourselves. 
 Mr. Sharp and I will go to the bow. There is 
 149 
 
150 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 no telling what they may do. They're desperate, 
 and may ram us from in front.'* 
 
 Tom and the captain hurried aft. Through 
 the thick plate-glass windows they could see the 
 blunt nose of the Wonder not far away, the rival 
 submarine having come to a halt. There she lay, 
 black and silent, like some monster fish waiting 
 to devour its victim. 
 
 "There doesn't appear to be much damage 
 done back here," observed Tom. "No leaks. 
 Guess they didn't puncture us." 
 
 "Perhaps it was due to an accident that they 
 rammed us," suggested the captain. 
 
 "Well, they wouldn't have done it if they hadn't 
 followed us so close," was the opinion of the 
 young inventor. "They're taking toa many 
 chances. We've got to stop 'em." 
 
 "What is this electric gun your father speaks 
 of?" 
 
 "Why, it's a regular electric cannon. It firei 
 a solid ball, weighing about twenty-five pounds, 
 but instead of powder, which would hardly do 
 Under water, and instead of compressed air, which 
 is used in the torpedo tubes of the Government 
 submarines, we use a current of electricity. It 
 forces the cannon ball out with great energy." 
 
 "I wonder what they will do next?" observed 
 the captain, peering through a bull's-eye. 
 
THE ELECTRIC GUN 151 
 
 "We can soon tell," replied the youth. "Well 
 go ahead, and if they try to follow I'm going to 
 fire on them." 
 
 "Suppose you sink them?" 
 
 "I won't fire to do that; only to disable them. 
 They brought it on themselves. We can't risk 
 having them damage us. Help me with the can- 
 non, will you please, captain?" 
 
 The electric cannon was a long, steel tube in 
 the after part of the submarine. It projected a 
 slight distance from the sides of the ship, and by 
 an ingenious arrangement could be swung around 
 in a ball and socket joint, thus enabling it to 
 shoot in almost any direction. 
 
 It was the work of but a few minutes to get 
 it ready and, with the muzzle pointing toward the 
 Wonder, Tom adjusted the electric wires and in- 
 serted the solid shot. 
 
 "Now we're prepared for them !" he cried. "I 
 think a good plan will be to start ahead, and if 
 they try to follow to fire on them. They've 
 brought it on themselves." 
 
 "Correct," spoke Captain Weston. 
 
 Tom hurried forward to tell his father of this 
 plan. 
 
 "We'll do it!" cried Mr. Swift. "Go ahead, 
 Mr. Sharp, and we'll see if those scoundrels will 
 follow." 
 
152 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 The young inventor returned on the run to 
 the electric cannon. There was a whirr of ma- 
 chinery, and the Advance moved forward. She 
 increased her speed, and the two watchers in 
 the stern loked anxiously out of the windows to 
 see what their rivals would do. 
 
 For a moment no movement was noticeable on 
 the part of the Wonder. Then, as those aboard 
 her appeared to realize that the craft on which 
 they depended to pilot them to the sunken treasure 
 was slipping away, word was given to follow. 
 The ship of Berg and his employers shot after the 
 Advance. 
 
 "Here they come!" cried Captain Weston. ( 
 "They're going to ram us again I" 
 
 "Then I'm going to fire on them!" declared 
 Tom savagely. 
 
 On came the Wonder, nearer and nearer. Her 
 speed was rapidly increasing. Suddenly she 
 bumped the Advance, and then, as if it was an 
 unavoidable accident, the rear submarine sheered 
 off to one side. 
 
 "They're certainly at it again!" cried Tom, 
 and peering from the bull's-eye he saw the 
 Wonder shoot past mouth of the electric cannon. 
 "Here it goes !" he added. 
 
 He shoved over the lever, making the proper 
 ^connection. There was no corresponding report, 
 
ELECTRIC GUN 153 
 
 for the cannon was noiseless, but there was a 
 slight jar as the projectile left the muzzle. The 
 Wonder could be seen to heel over. 
 
 "You hit her! You hit her!" cried Captain 
 Weston. "A good shot!" 
 
 "I was afraid she was past me when I pulled 
 the lever," explained Tom. "She went like a 
 flash." 
 
 "No, you caught her on the rudder," declared 
 the captain. "I think you've put her out of busi- 
 ness. Yes, they're rising to the surface." 
 
 The lad rapidly inserted another ball, and re- 
 charged the cannon. Then he peered out into 
 the water, illuminated by the light of day over- 
 head, as they were not far down. He could see 
 the Wonder rising to the surface. Clearly some- 
 thing had happened. 
 
 "Maybe they're going to drop down on us 
 from above, and try to sink us," suggested the 
 youth, while he stood ready to fire again. "If 
 they do " 
 
 His words were interrupted by a slight jar 
 throughout the submarine. 
 
 "What was that ?" cried the captain. 
 
 "Dad fired the bow gun at them, but I don't 
 believe he hit them," answered the young inventor. 
 "I wonder what damage I did? Guess we'll go 
 to the surface to find out." 
 
154 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 Clearly the Wonder had given up the fight for 
 the time being. In fact, she had no weapon with 
 which to respond to a fusilade from her rivaL 
 Tom hastened forward and informed his father 
 of what had happened. 
 
 "If her steering gear is out of order, we may, 
 have a chance to slip away," said Mr. Swift. 
 "We'll go up and see what we can learn." 
 
 A few minutes later Tom, his father and Cap- 
 tain Weston stepped from the conning tower, 
 which was out of water, on to the little flat deck. 
 A short distance away lay the Wonder, and on 
 her deck was Berg and a number of men, evi- 
 dently members of the crew. 
 
 "Why did you fire on us?" shcuted the agent 
 angrily. 
 
 "Why did you follow us?" retorted Tom. 
 
 "Well, you've broken our rudder and disabled 
 us," went on Berg, not answering the question. 
 "You'll suffer for this ! I'll have you arrested." 
 
 "You only got what you deserved," added Mr. 
 Swift. "You were acting illegally, following us, 
 and you tried to sink us by ramming my craft,, 
 before we retaliated by firing on you." 
 
 "It was an accident, ramming you," said Berg. 
 "We couldn't help it I now demand that you 
 help us make repairs." 
 
 "Well, you've got nerve!" cried Captain 
 
THE ELECTRIC GUN 155 
 
 Weston, his eyes flashing. "I'd like to have a per- 
 sonal interview with you for about ten minutes. 
 Maybe something besides your ship would need 
 repairs then." 
 
 Berg turned away, scowling, but did not reply. 
 He began directing the crew what to do about 
 the broken rudder. 
 
 "Come on," proposed Tom in a low voice, for 
 sounds carry very easily over water. "Let's go 
 below and skip out while we have a chance. They 
 can't follow now, and we can get to the sunken 
 treasure ahead of them." 
 
 "Good advice," commented his father. "Come, 
 Captain Weston, we'll go below and close the 
 conning tower." 
 
 Five minutes later the Advance sank from 
 sight, the last glimpse Tom had of Berg and his 
 men being a sight of them standing on the deck 
 of their floating boat, gazing in the direction of 
 their successful rival. The Wonder was left be- 
 hind, while Tom and his friends were soon once 
 more speeding toward the treasure wreck. 
 
CHAPTER XIX 
 
 CAPTURED 
 
 "DOWN deep," advised Captain Weston, as tie 
 stood beside Tom and Mr. Swift in the pilot 
 house. "As far as you can manage her, and 
 then forward. We'll take no more chances with 
 these fellows." 
 
 "The only trouble is," replied the young in- 
 ventor, "that the deeper we go the slower we 
 have to travel. The water is so dense that it 
 holds us back." 
 
 "Well, there is no special need of hurrying 
 now," went on the sailor. "No one is following 
 you, and two or three days difference in reaching 
 the wreck will not amount to anything." 
 
 "Unless they repair their rudder, and take after 
 us again," suggested Mr. Swift. 
 
 "They're not very likely to do that," was ths 
 
 captain's opinion. "It was more by luck than 
 
 good management that they picked us up before. 
 
 Now, having to delay, as they will, to repair their 
 
 156 
 
CAPTURED 
 
 steering gear, while we can go as deep as we 
 please and speed ahead, it is practically impossi- 
 ble for them to catch up to us. No, I think we 
 have nothing to fear from them." 
 
 But though danger from Berg and his crowd 
 was somewhat remote, perils of another sort were 
 hovering around the treasure-seekers, and they 
 were soon to experience them. 
 
 It was much different from sailing along in the 
 airship, Tom thought, for there was no blue sky 
 and fleecy clouds to see, and they could not look 
 down and observe, far below them, cities and 
 villages. Nor could they breathe the bracing at- 
 mosphere of the upper regions. 
 
 But if there was lack of the rarefied air of the 
 elouds, there was no lack of fresh atmosphere. 
 The big tanks carried a large supply, and when- 
 ever more was needed the oxygen machine would 
 supply it. 
 
 As there was no need, however, of remain- 
 ing under water for any great stretch of time, it 
 was their practice to rise every day and renew 
 the air supply, also to float along on the surface 
 for a while, or speed along, with only the con- 
 ning tower out, in order to afford a view, and 
 to enable Captain Weston to take observations. 
 But care was always exercised to make sure no 
 ships were in sight when emerging on the sur- 
 
158 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 face, for the gold-seekers did not want to be 
 hailed and questioned by inquisitive persons. 
 
 It was about four days after the disabling of 
 the rival submarine, and the Advance was speed- 
 jng along about a mile and a half under water. 
 / Tom was in the pilot house with Captain Weston, 
 Mr. Damon was at his favorite pastime of look- 
 ing out of the glass side windows into the ocean 
 and its wonders, and Mr. Swift and the balloon- 
 ists were, as usual, in the engine-room. 
 
 "How near do you calculate we are to the 
 sunken wreck?" asked Tom of his companion. 
 
 "Well, at the calculation we made yesterday, 
 we are within about a thousand miles of it now. 
 We ought to reach it in about four more days, if 
 we don't have any accidents." 
 
 "And how deep do you think it is?" went on 
 the lad. 
 
 "Well, I'm afraid it's pretty close to two miles, 
 if not more. It's quite a depth, and of course 
 impossible for ordinary divers to reach. But it 
 will be possible in this submarine and in the strong 
 diving suits your father has invented for us to 
 get to it. Yes, I don't anticipate much trouble 
 in getting out the gold, once we reach the wreck. 
 Of course " 
 
 The captain's remark was not finished. From 
 the engine-room there came a startled shout : 
 
CAPTURED 159 
 
 'Tom! Tom! Your father is hurt! Come 
 here, quick!" 
 
 "Take the wheel!" cried the lad to the cap- 
 tain. "I must go to my father." It was Mr. 
 Sharp's voice he had heard. 
 
 Racing to the engine-room, Tom saw his parent 
 doubled up over a dynamo, while to one side, his 
 hand on a copper switch, stood Mr. Sharp. 
 
 "What's the matter?" shouted the lad. 
 
 "He's held there by a current of electricity," 
 replied the balloonist. "The wires are crossed." 
 
 "Why don't you shut off the current ?" demand- 
 ed the youth, as he prepared to pull his parent 
 from the whirring machine. Then he hesitated, 
 for he feared he, too, would be glued fast by the 
 terrible current, and so be unable to help Mn 
 Swift. 
 
 "I'm held fast here, too," replied the balloon- 
 ist. "I started to cut out the current at this switch, 
 but there's a short circuit somewhere, and I can't 
 let go, either. Quick, shut off all power at the 
 main switchboard forward." 
 
 Tom realized that this was the only thing to do. 
 He ran forward and with a yank cut out all the 
 electric wires. With a sigh of relief Mr. Sharp 
 pulled his hands from the copper where he had 
 been held fast as if by some powerful magnet, his 
 muscles cramped by the current. Fortunately the 
 
160 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 electricity was of low voltage, and he was not 
 burned. The body of Mr. Swift toppled back- 
 ward from the dynamo, as Tom sprang to reach 
 his father. 
 
 "He's dead !" he cried, as he saw the pale face 
 and the closed eyes. 
 
 "No, only badly shocked, I hope," spoke Mr. 
 Sharp. "But we must get him to the fresh air 
 at once. Start the tank pumps. We'll rise to the 
 surface." 
 
 The youth needed no second bidding. Once 
 more turning on the electric current, he set the 
 powerful pumps in motion and the submarine 
 began to rise. Then, aided by Captain Weston 
 and Mr. Damon, the young inventor carried his 
 father to a couch in the main cabin. Mr. Sharp 
 took charge of the machinery. 
 
 Restoratives were applied, and there was a 
 flutter of the eyelids of the aged inventor. 
 
 "I think he'll come around all right," said the 
 sailor kindly, as he saw Tom's grief. "Fresh air 
 will be the thing for him. We'll be on the surface 
 in a minute." 
 
 Up shot the Advance, while Mr. Sharp stood 
 yeady to open the conning tower as soon as it 
 should be out of water. Mr. Swift seemed to be 
 rapidly reviving. With a bound the submarine, 
 forced upward from the great depth, fairly shot 
 
CAPTURED l6l 
 
 out of the water. There was a clanking sound 
 as the aeronaut opened the airtight door of the 
 tower, and a breath of fresh air came in. 
 
 "Can you walk, dad, or shall we carry you?" 
 asked Tom solitiously. 
 
 "Oh, I I'm feeling better now," was the in- 
 ventor's reply. "I'll soon be all right when I get 
 out on deck. My foot slipped as I was adjusting 
 a wire that had gotten out of order, and I fell 
 so that I received a large part of the current. I'm 
 glad I was not burned. Was Mr. Sharp hurt? 
 I saw him run to the switch, just before I lost 
 
 consciousness." 
 
 "No, I'm all right," answered the balloonist. 
 "But allow us to get you out to the fresh air. 
 You'll feel much better then." 
 
 Mr. Swift managed to walk slowly to the lad* 
 der leading to the conning tower, and thence to 
 the deck. The others followed him. As all 
 emerged from the submarine they uttered a cry 
 of astonishment. 
 
 There, not one hundred yards away, was a 
 great warship, flying a flag which, in a moment, 
 Tom recognized as that of Brazil. The cruiser 
 was lying off a small island, and all about were 
 small boats, filled with natives, who seemed to be 
 bringing supplies from land to the ship. At the 
 unexpected sight of the submarine, bobbing tig 
 
162 TOM Stt'IFT AND HIS 'SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 from the bottom of the ocean, the natives uttered 
 cries of fright. The attention of those on the 
 warship was attracted, and the bridge and rails 
 were lined with curious officers and men. 
 
 "It's a good thing we didn't come up under that 
 ship," observed Tom. "They would have thought 
 we were trying to torpedo her. Do you feel 
 better, dad ?" he asked, his wonder over the sight 
 of the big vessel temporarily eclipsed in his anx- 
 iety for his parent. 
 
 "Oh, yes, much better. I'm all right now. 
 But I wish we hadn't disclosed ourselves to these 
 people. They may demand to know where we 
 are going, and Brazil is too near Uruguay to 
 make it safe to tell our errand. They may guess 
 it, however, from having read of the wreck, and 
 our departure." 
 
 "Oh, I guess it will be all right," replied Cap- 
 tain Weston. "We can tell them we are on a 
 pleasure trip. That's true enough. It would give 
 us great pleasure to find that gold." 
 
 "There's a boat, with some officers in it, to 
 ;iudge by the amount of gold lace on them, putting* 
 off from the ship," remarked Mr. Sharp. 
 
 "Ha ! Yes ! Evidently they intend to pay us 
 a formal visit," observed Mr. Damon. "Bless my 
 gaiters, though. I'm not dressed to receive com- 
 pany. I think I'll put on my dress suit." 
 
CAPTURED 163 
 
 "It's too late," advised Tom. "They'll be here 
 in a minute." 
 
 Urged on by the lusty arms of the Brazilian 
 sailors, the boat, containing several officers, neared 
 the floating submarine rapidly. 
 
 "Ahoy there !" called an officer in the bow, his 
 accent betraying his unfamiliarity with the Eng- 
 lish language. "What craft are you ?" 
 
 "Submarine, Advance, from New Jersey," re- 
 plied Tom. "Who are you ?" 
 
 "Brazilian cruiser San Paulo'' was the reply. 
 "Where are you bound ?" went on the officer. 
 
 "On pleasure," answered Captain Weston 
 quickly. "But why do you ask? We are an 
 American ship, sailing under American colors. 
 Is this Brazilian territory?" 
 
 "This island is yes," came back the answer, 
 and by this time the small boat was at the side 
 of the submarine. Before the adventurers could 
 have protested, had they a desire to do so, there 
 were a number of officers and the crew of the 
 San Paulo on the small deck. 
 
 With a flourish, the officer who had done the 
 questioning drew his sword. Waving it in the 
 air with a dramatic gesture, he exclaimed : 
 
 "You're our prisoners! Resist and my men 
 shall cut you down like dogs ! Seize them, men !" 
 
 The sailors sprang forward, each one station- 
 
164 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 ing himself at the side of one of our friends, and 
 grasping an arm. 
 
 "What does this mean ?" cried Captain Weston 
 indignantly. "If this is a joke, you're carrying it 
 too far. If you're in earnest, let me warn you 
 against interfering with Americans !" 
 
 "We know what we are doing," was the an- 
 swer from the officer. 
 
 The sailor who had hold of Captain Weston 
 endeavored to secure a tighter grip. The captain 
 turned suddenly, and seizing the man about the 
 waist, with an exercise of tremendous strength 
 hurled him over his head and into the sea, the 
 man making a great splash. 
 
 "That's the way I'll treat any one else who dares 
 lay a hand on me !" shouted the captain, who was 
 transformed from a mild-mannered individual into 
 an angry, modern giant. There was a gasp of 
 astonishment at his feat, as the ducked sailor 
 crawled back into the small boat. And he did 
 not again venture on the deck of the submarine. 
 
 "Seize them, men !" cried the gold-laced officer 
 again, and this time he and his fellows, including 
 the crew, crowded so closely around Tom and 
 his friends that they could do nothing. Even 
 Captain Weston found it impossible to offer any 
 resistance, for three men grabbed hold of him, 
 
CAPTURED 16$ 
 
 But his spirit was still a fighting one, an4 he 
 struggled desperately but uselessly. 
 
 "How dare you do this ?" he cried. 
 
 "Yes," added Tom, "what right have you to 
 interfere with us ?" 
 
 "Every right," declared the gold-laced officer. 
 "You are in Brazilian territory, and I arrest you." 
 
 "What for?" demanded Mr. Sharp. 
 
 "Because your ship is an American submarine, 
 and we have received word that you intend to 
 damage our shipping, and may try to torpedo our 
 warships. I believe you tried to disable us a 
 little while ago, but failed. We consider that an 
 act of war and you will be treated accordingly. 
 Take them on board the San Paulo," the officer 
 went on, turning to his aides. "We'll try them 
 by court-marital here. Some of you remain and 
 guard this submarine. We will teach these fili- 
 bustering Americans a lesson." 
 
CHAPTER XX 
 
 DOOMED TO DEATH 
 
 THERE was no room on the small deck of the 
 submarine to make a stand against the officers 
 and crew of the Brazilian warship. In fact, the 
 capture of the gold-seekers had been effected so 
 suddenly that their astonishment almost deprived 
 them of the power to think clearly. 
 
 At another command from the officer, who was 
 addressed as Admiral Fanchetti, several of the 
 sailors began to lead Tom and his friends toward 
 the small boat. 
 
 "Do you feel all right, father?" inquired the 
 lad anxiously, as he looked at his parent. "These 
 scoundrels have no right to treat us so." 
 
 "Yes, Tom, I'm all right as far as the electric 
 shock is concerned, but I don't like to be handled 
 in this fashion." 
 
 "We ought not to submit!" burst out Mr. 
 Damon. "Bless the stars and stripes ! We ought 
 
 to fight/' 
 
 166 
 
DOOMED TO DEATH 167 
 
 "There's no chance," said Mr. Sharp. "We are 
 right under the guns of the ship. They could 
 sink us with one shot. I guess we'll have to give 
 in for the time being." 
 
 "It is most unpleasant, if I may be allowed the 
 expression/' commented Captain Weston mildly. 
 He seemed to have lost his sudden anger, but 
 there was a steely glint in his eyes, and a grim, 
 set look around his mouth that showed his temper 
 was kept under control only by an effort. It boded 
 no good to the sailors who had hold of the 
 doughty captain if he should once get loose, and 
 it was noticed that they were on their guard. 
 
 As for Tom, he submitted quietly to the two 
 Brazilians who had hold of either arm, and Mr. 
 Swift was held by only one, for it was seen that 
 he was feeble. 
 
 "Into the boat with them !" cried Admiral Fan- 
 chetti. "And guard them well, Lieutenant Dras- 
 ealo, for I heard them plotting to escape," and 
 the admiral signaled to a younger officer, who 
 was in charge of the men guarding the prisoners. 
 
 "Lieutenant Drascalo, eh?" murmured Mr. 
 Damon. "I think they made a mistake naming 
 him. It ought to be Rascalo. He looks like a 
 rascal." 
 
 "Silenceo!" exclaimed the lieutenant, scowling 
 at the odd character. 
 
i68 TOM SWIFT: AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 "Bless my spark plug! He's a regular fire- 
 eater!" went on Mr. Damon, who appeared to 
 have fully recovered his spirits. 
 
 "Silenceo !" cried the lieutenant, scowling again, 
 but Mr. Damon did not appear to mind. 
 
 Admiral Fanchetti and several others of the 
 gold-laced officers remained aboard the submarine, 
 while Tom and his friends were hustled into the 
 small boat and rowed toward the warship. 
 
 "I hope they don't damage our craft," mur- 
 mured the young inventor, as he saw the admiral 
 enter the conning tower. 
 
 "If they do, we'll complain to the United States 
 consul and demand damages," said Mr. Swift. 
 
 "I'm afraid we won't have a chance to com- 
 municate with the consul," remarked Captain 
 Weston. 
 
 "What do you mean?" asked Mr. Damon. 
 "Bless my shoelaces, but will these scoun- 
 drels " 
 
 "Silenceo !" cried Lieutenant Drascalo quickly. 
 "Dogs of Americans, do you wish to insult us ?" 
 
 "Impossible; you wouldn't appreciate a good, 
 genuine United States insult," murmured Tom 
 under his breath. 
 
 "What I mean," went on the captain, "is that 
 these people may carry the proceedings off with 
 
DOOMED TO DEATH 169 
 
 a high hand. You heard the admiral speak of a 
 court-martial." 
 
 "Would they dare do that?" inquired Mr. 
 Sharp. 
 
 1 "They would dare anything in this part of the 
 world, I'm afraid," resumed Captain Weston. 
 "I think I see their plan, though. This admiral 
 is newly in command; his uniform shows that 
 He wants to make a name for himself, and he 
 seizes on our submarine as an excuse. He can 
 send word to his government that he destroyed a 
 torpedo craft that sought to wreck his ship. Thus 
 he will acquire a reputation." 
 
 "But would his government support him in 
 such a hostile act against the United States, a 
 friendly nation?" asked Tom. 
 
 "X)h, he would not claim to have acted against 
 the United States as a power. He would say 
 that it was a private submarine, and, as a matter 
 of fact, it is. While we are under the protection 
 of the stars and stripes, our vessel is not a Gov- 
 ernment one," and Captain Weston spoke the 
 last in a low voice, so the scowling lieutenant 
 could not hear. 
 
 "What will they do with us?" inquired Mr. 
 Swift. 
 
 "Have some sort of a court-martial, perhaps," 
 on the captain, "and confiscate our craft 
 
i;o TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 Then they will send us back home, I expect, for 
 they would not dare harm us." 
 
 "But take our submarine !" cried Tom. "The 
 villains " 
 
 "Silenceo!" shouted Lieutenant Drascalo, and 
 he drew his sword. 
 
 By this time the small boat was under the big 
 guns of the San Paulo, and the prisoners were or- 
 dered, in broken English, to mount a companion 
 ladder that hung over the side. In a short time 
 they were on deck, amid a crowd of sailors, and 
 they could see the boat going back to bring off 
 the admiral, who signaled from the submarine, 
 Tom and his friends were taken below to a room 
 that looked like a prison, and there, a little later, 
 they were visited by Admiral Fanchetti and sev- 
 eral officers. 
 
 "You will be tried at once," said the admiral. 
 "I have examined your submarine and I find 
 she carries two torpedo tubes. It is a wonder 
 you did not sink me at once." 
 
 "Those are not torpedo tubes !" cried Tom, un- 
 able to keep silent, though Captain Weston 
 motioned him to do so. 
 
 "I know torpedo tubes when I see them," de- 
 clared the admiral. "I consider I had a very 
 narrow escape. Your country is fortunate that 
 mine does not declare war against it for this 
 
DOOMED TO DEATH 171 
 
 act. But I take it you are acting privately, for 
 you fly no flag, though you claim to be from the 
 United States." 
 
 "There's no place for a flag on the submarine," 
 went on Tom. "What good would it be under 
 water?" 
 
 "Silenceo !" cried Lieutenant Drascalo, the ad- 
 monition to silence seeming to be the only com- 
 mand of which he was capable. 
 
 "I shall confiscate your craft for my govern- 
 ment," went on the admiral, "and shall punisK 
 you as the court-martial may direct. You will be 
 tried at once." 
 
 It was in vain for the prisoners to protest. 
 Matters were carried with a high hand. They 
 were allowed a spokesman, and Captain Weston, 
 who understood Spanish, was selected, that lan- 
 guage being used. But the defense was a farce, 
 for he was scarcely listened to. Several officers 
 testified before the admiral, who was judge, that 
 they had seen the submarine rise out of the water, 
 almost under the prow of the San Paulo. It was 
 assumed that the Advance had tried to wreck the 
 warship, but had failed. It was in vain that 
 Captain Weston and the others told of the reason 
 for their rapid ascent from the ocean depths 
 that Mr. Swift had been shocked, and needed fresh 
 air. Their story was not believed. 
 
172 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 "We have heard enough !" suddenly exclaimed 
 the admiral. "The evidence against you is over- 
 whelming er what you Americans call conclth 
 sive," and he was speaking then in broken Eng- 
 lish. "I find you guilty, and the sentence of this 
 court-martial is that you be shot at sunrise, three 
 days hence!" 
 
 "Shot !" cried Captain Weston, staggering back 
 at this unexpected sentence. His companions 
 turned white, and Mr. Swift leaned against his 
 son for support. 
 
 "Bless my stars! Of all the scoundrelly " 
 
 began Mr. Damon. 
 
 "Silenceo!" shouted the lieutenant, waving his 
 sword. 
 
 "You will be shot," proceeded the admiral. "Is 
 not that the verdict of the honorable court?" he 
 asked, looking at his fellow officers. They all 
 nodded gravely. 
 
 "But look here!" objected Captain Weston. 
 "You don't dare do that ! We are citizens of the 
 United States, and " 
 
 "I consider you no better than pirates," inter- 
 rupted the admiral. "You have an armed sub- 
 marine a s'.omarine with torpedo tubes. You 
 invade oir harbor with it, and come up almost 
 under my ship. You have forfeited your right 
 to the protection of your country, and I have no 
 
DOOMED TO DEATH 173 
 
 fear on that score. You will be shot within three 
 days. That is all. Remove the prisoners." 
 
 Protests were in vain, and it was equally use- 
 less to struggle. The prisoners were taken out 
 on deck, for which they were thankful, for the 
 interior of the ship was close and hot, the weather 
 being intensely disagreeable. They were told to 
 keep within a certain space on deck, and a guard 
 of sailors, all armed, was placed near them. From 
 where they were they could see their submarine 
 floating on the surface of the little bay, with sev- 
 eral Brazilians on the small deck. The Advance 
 had been anchored, and was surrounded by a 
 flotilla of the native boats, the brown-skinned 
 paddlers gazing curiously at the odd craft. 
 
 "Well, this is tough luck!" murmured Tom. 
 "How do you feel, dad?" 
 
 "As well as can be expected under the cir- 
 cumstances," was the reply. "What do you think 
 about this, Captain Weston ?" 
 
 "Not very much, if I may be allowed the ex- 
 pression," was the answer. 
 
 "Do you think they will dare carry out that 
 threat?" asked Mr. c harp. 
 
 The captain shrugged his shoulders. "I hope 
 it is only a bluff," he replied, "made to scare us 
 so we will consent to giving up the submarine, 
 which they have no right to confiscate. But these 
 
174 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 fellows look ugly enough for anything," he went 
 on. 
 
 "Then if there's any chance of them attempting 
 to carry it out," spoke Tom, "we've got to do 
 something." 
 
 "Bless my gizzard, of course!" exclaimed Mr. 
 Damon. "But what? That's the question. To 
 be shot! Why, that's a terrible threat! The 
 villains " 
 
 "Silenceo!" shouted Lieutenant Drascalo, com- 
 ing up at that moment. 
 
CHAPTER XXI 
 
 THE ESCAPE 
 
 EVENTS had happened so quickly that day that 
 the gold-hunters could scarcely comprehend them. 
 It seemed only a short time since Mr. Swift had 
 been discovered lying disabled on the dynamo, and 
 what had transpired since seemed to have taken 
 place in a few minutes, though it was, in reality, 
 several hours. This was made manifest by the 
 feeling of hunger on the part of Tom and his 
 friends. 
 
 "I wonder if they're going to starve us, the 
 scoundrels?" asked Mr. Sharp, when the irate 
 lieutenant was beyond hearing. "It's not fair to 
 make us go hungry and shoot us in the bargain." 
 
 "That's so, they ought to feed us," put in Tom. 
 As yet neither he nor the others fully realized 
 the meaning of the sentence passed on them. 
 
 From where they were on deck they could look 
 off to the little island. From it boats manned by 
 natives were constantly putting off, bringing sup- 
 175 
 
176 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 plies to the ship. The place appeared to be a sort 
 of calling station for Brazilian warships, where 
 they could get fresh water and fruit and other 
 food. 
 
 From the island the gaze of the adventurers 
 wandered to the submarine, which lay not far 
 away. They were chagrined to see several of 
 the bolder natives clambering over the deck. 
 
 "I hope they keep out of the interior," com- 
 mented Tom. "If they get to pulling or hauling 
 on the levers and wheels they may open the tanks 
 and sink her, with the conning tower open." 
 
 "Better that, perhaps, than to have her fall 
 into the hands of a foreign power," commented 
 Captain Weston. "Besides, I don't see that it's 
 going to matter much to us what becomes of her 
 after we're " 
 
 He did not finish, but every one knew what 
 he meant, and a grim silence fell upon the little 
 group. 
 
 There came a welcome diversion, however, in 
 the shape of three sailors, bearing trays of food, 
 which were placed on the deck in front of the 
 prisoners, who were sitting or lying in the shade 
 of an awning, for the sun was very hot. 
 
 "Ha! Bless my napkin-ring!" cried Mr. 
 Damon with something of his former gaiety. 
 
THE ESCAPE 1775 
 
 "Here's a meal, at all events. They don't intend 
 to starve us. Eat hearty, every one." 
 
 "Yes, we need to keep up our strength/' ob-' 
 served Captain Weston. 
 
 "Why?" inquired Mr. Sharp. 
 
 "Because we're going to try to escape!" ex- 
 claimed Tom in a low voice, when the sailors who 
 had brought the food had gone. "Isn't that what 
 you mean, captain ?" 
 
 "Exactly. We'll try to give these villains the 
 slip, and we'll need all our strength and wits to 
 do it. We'll wait until night, and see what we 
 can do." 
 
 "But where will we escape to?" asked Mr. 
 Swift. "The island will afford no shelter, 
 and " 
 
 "No, but our submarine will," went on the 
 sailor. 
 
 "It's in the possession of the Brazilians," ob- 
 jected Tom. 
 
 "Once I get aboard the Advance twenty of 
 those brown-skinned villains won't keep me pris- 
 oner," declared Captain Weston fiercely. "If we 
 can only slip away from here, get into the small 
 boat, or even swim to the submarine, I'll make 
 those chaps on board her think a hurricane has 
 broken loose." 
 
 "Yes, and I'll help," said Mr. Damoti. 
 
178 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 "And I," added Tom and the balloonist. 
 
 "That's the way to talk," commented the cap- 
 tain. "Now let's eat, for I see that rascally lieu- 
 tenant coming this way, and we mustn't appear 
 to be plotting, or he'll be suspicious." 
 
 The day passed slowly, and though the pris- 
 oners seemed to be allowed considerable liberty, 
 they soon found that it was only apparent. Once 
 Tom walked some distance from that portion of 
 the deck where he and the others had been told 
 to remain. A sailor with a gun at once ordered 
 him back. Nor could they approach the rails with- 
 ovt being directed, harshly enough at times, to 
 move back amidships. 
 
 As night approached the gold-seekers were on 
 th? alert for any chance that might offer to slip 
 away, or even attack their guard, but the num- 
 ber of Brazilians around them was doubled in 
 the evening, and after supper, which was served 
 to them on deck by the light of swinging lanterns, 
 they were taken below and locked in a stuffy 
 cabin. They looked helplessly at each other. 
 
 "Don't give up," advised Captain Weston. "It's 
 a Jong night. We may be able to get out of here." 
 
 But this hope was in vain. Several times he 
 and Tom, thinking the guards outside the cabin 
 were asleep, tried to force the lock of the door 
 with their pocket-knives, which had not bem 
 
THE ESCAPE 179 
 
 taken from them. But one of the sailors was 
 aroused each time by the noise, and looked in 
 through a barred window, so they had to give 
 it up. Slowly the night passed, and morning 
 found the prisoners pale, tired and discouraged. 
 They were brought up on deck again, for which 
 they were thankful, as in that tropical climate it 
 was stifling below. 
 
 During the day they saw Admiral Fanchetti 
 and several of his officers pay a visit to the sub- 
 marine. They went below through the opened 
 conning tower, and were gone some time. 
 
 "I hope they don't disturb any of the ma- 
 chinery," remarked Mr. Swift. "That could 
 easily do great damage." 
 
 Admiral Fanchetti seemed much pleased with 
 himself when he returned from his visit to the 
 submarine. 
 
 "You have a fine craft," he said to the prisoners. 
 "Or, rather, you had one. My government now 
 owns it. It seems a pity to shoot such good boat 
 builders, but you are too dangerous to be allowed 
 to go." 
 
 If there had been any doubt in the minds of 
 Tom and his friends that the sentence of the 
 court-martial was only for effect, it was dispelled 
 that day. A firing squad was told off in plain 
 view of them, and the men were put through their 
 
l8o TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 evolutions by Lieutenant Drascalo, who had them 
 load, aim and fire blank cartridges at an imagi- 
 nary line of prisoners. Tom could not repress a 
 shudder as he noted the leveled rifles, and saw 
 the fire and smoke spurt from the muzzles. 
 
 "Thus we shall do to you at sunrise to-mor- 
 row," said the liteutenant, grinning, as he once 
 more had his men practice their grim work. 
 
 It seemed hotter than ever that day. The sun 
 was fairly broiling, and there was a curious hazi- 
 ness and stillness to the air. It was noticed that 
 the sailors on the San Paulo were busy making 
 fast all loose articles on deck with extra lashings, 
 and hatch coverings were doubly secured. 
 
 "What do you suppose they are up to?" asked 
 Tom of Captain Weston. 
 
 "I think it is coming on to blow," he replied, 
 "and they don't want to be caught napping. They 
 have fearful storms down in this region at this 
 season of the year, and I think one is about due." 
 
 "I hope it doesn't wreck the submarine," spoke 
 Mr. Swift. "They ought to close the hatch of 
 the conning tower, for it won't take much of a 
 sea to make her ship considerable water." 
 
 Admiral Fanchetti had thought of this, how- 
 ever, and as the afternoon wore away and the 
 storm signs multiplied, he sent word to close the 
 
THE ESCAPE l8l 
 
 submarine. He left a few sailors aboard inside 
 on guard. 
 
 "It's too hot to eat," observed Tom, when 
 their supper had been brought to them, and the 
 others felt the same way about it. They man- 
 aged to drink some cocoanut milk, prepared in a 
 palatable fashion by the natives of the island, and 
 then, much to their disgust, they were taken be- 
 low again and locked in the cabin. 
 
 "Whew ! But it certainly is hot !" exclaimed Mr. 
 Damon as he sat down on a couch and fanned 
 himself. "This is awful !" 
 
 "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, move- 
 ments which indicated that preparations were be- 
 ing 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. Ad- 
 miral 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 
 
182 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 cable or chain will hold in such storms as they 
 have here." 
 
 There came a period of silence, which was sud- 
 denly broken by a howl as of some wild beast. 
 
 "What's that?" cried Tom, springing up from 
 where he was stretched 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 cap- 
 tain. "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 out- 
 burst of the elements, there sounded a crash on 
 deck. It was followed by excited cries. 
 
 "Something's happened!" yelled Tom. The 1 
 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. 
 
THE ESCAPE 183 
 
 "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 crash- 
 ing 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 sway- 
 ing 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 small boat. It's near 
 the side ladder. W*'U lower the boat and pull 
 to the submarine." 
 
184 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 There came a flash of lightning, and in its glare 
 (Tom saw something that caused him to cry out. 
 
 'Took!" 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 Paulo that's dragging her an- 
 chors, 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 com- 
 panion 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 es- 
 caping !" 
 
 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 lieu- 
 tenant. It struck him in the chest, and he stag- 
 gered back, lowering his sword. 
 
THE ESCAPE 185 
 
 Captain Weston leaped forward, and with a 
 terrific blow sent Lieutenant Drascalo to the deck. 
 
 "There !" cried the sailor. "I guess you won't 
 /ell '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 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 Son 
 'Paulo 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 escag- 
 
J86 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 mg 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 ac- 
 commodation ladder. 
 
 "Now for the Advance!" murmured Captain 
 iWeston. 
 
 "Come back ! Come back, dogs of Americans !" 
 cried a voice at the rail over their heads, and look- 
 ing up, Tom saw Lieutenant Drascalo. He had 
 snatched a carbine from a marine, and was point- 
 ,ing it at the recent prisoners. He fired, the flash 
 of the gun and a dazzling chain of lightning com- 
 ing together. The thunder swallowed up the 
 report of the carbine, but the bullet whistled un- 
 comfortable 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 
 
THE ESCAPE 287 
 
 flash came the adventurers saw that they were 
 close to their submarine. 
 
 A fusilade of shots sounded from the deck of 
 the warship, but as the marines were poor marks- 
 men at best, and as the swaying of the ship dis- 
 concerted 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 
 manage a boat skilfully, and he soon had the craft 
 alongside the bobbing submarine. 
 
 "Get aboard, now, quick !" he cried. 
 
 They leaped to the small deck, casting the row- 
 boat adrift. It was the work of but a moment 
 to open the conning tower. As they started to 
 descend they were met by several Brizilians com- 
 ing 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 
 
lS8 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 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 hap- 
 pens." 
 
 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 in- 
 stant 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 Dras- 
 calo 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 
 
THE ESCAPE 189 
 
 time until deep enough to escape the surface mo- 
 tion. Waiting until she was far enough down 
 so that her lights would not offer a mark for 
 the guns of the warship, the electrics were 
 switched on. 
 
 "We're safe now!" cried Tom, helping his 
 father to his cabin. "They've got too much to 
 attend to themselves to follow us now, even if 
 they could. Shall we go ahead, Captain Weston?" 
 
 "I think so, yes, if I may be allowed to express 
 my opinion," was the mild reply, in strange con- 
 trast to the strenuous work in which the captain 
 had just been engaged. 
 
 Tom signaled to Mr. Sharp in the engine-room, 
 and in a few seconds the Advance was speeding 
 away from the island and the hostile vessel. Nor, 
 deep as she was now, was there any sign of the 
 hurricane. In the peaceful depths she was once 
 more speeding toward the sunken treasure. 
 
CHAPTER XXII 
 
 AT THE WRECK 
 
 "WELL," remarked Mr. Damon, as the sub- 
 marine hurled herself forward through the ocean, 
 "I guess that firing party will have something 
 else to do to-morrow morning besides aiming 
 those rifles at us." 
 
 "Yes, indeed," agreed Tom. "They'll be lucky 
 if they save their ship. My, how that wind did 
 blow!" 
 
 "You're right," put in Captain Weston. 
 "When they get a hurricane down in this region 
 it's no cat's paw. But they were a mighty care- 
 less lot of sailors. The idea of leaving the ladder 
 over the side, and the boat in the water." 
 
 "It was a good thing for us, though," was 
 Tom's opinion. 
 
 "Indeed it was," came from the captain. "But 
 as long as we are safe now I think we'd better 
 take a look about the craft to see if those chaps 
 did any damage. They can't have done much, 
 
 190 
 
AT THE WRECK 191 
 
 though, or she wouldn't be running so smoothly. 
 Suppose you go take a look, Tom, and ask your 
 father and Mr. Sharp what they think. I'll steer 
 for a while, until we get well away from the 
 island." 
 
 The young inventor found his father and the 
 balloonist busy in the engine-room. Mr. Swift 
 had already begun an inspection of the machinery, 
 and so far found that it had not been injured. 
 A further inspection showed that no damage had 
 been done by the foreign guard that had been 
 in temporary possession of the Advance, though 
 the sailors had made free in the cabins, and had 
 broken into the food lockers, helping themselves 
 plentifully. But there was still enough for the 
 gold-seekers. 
 
 "You'd never know there was a storm raging 
 up above," observed Tom as he rejoined Captain 
 Weston in the lower pilot house, where he was 
 managing the craft. "It's as still and peaceful 
 here as one could wish." 
 
 "Yes, the extreme depths are seldom disturbed 
 by a surface storm. But we are over a mile deep 
 now. I sent her down a little while you were 
 gone, as I think she rides a little more steadily. 
 
 All that night they speeded forward, and the 
 next day, rising to the surface to take an observa- 
 tion, they found no traces of the storm, which 
 
192 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 had blown itself out. They were several hundred 
 miles away from the hostile warship, and there 
 was not a vessel in sight on the broad expanse 
 of blue ocean. 
 
 The air tanks were refilled, and after sailiwg 
 along on the surface for an hour or two, the sub- 
 marine was again sent below, as Captain Weston 
 sighted through his telescope the smoke of a 
 distant steamer. 
 
 "As long as it isn't tHe Wonder, we're all 
 right," said Tom. "Still, we don't want to answer 
 a lot of questions about ourselves and our object." 
 
 "No. I fancy the Wonder will give up the 
 search," remarked the captain, as the Advance 
 was sinking to the depths. 
 
 "We must be getting pretty near to the end 
 of our search ourselves," ventured the young in- 
 ventor. 
 
 "We are within five hundred miles of the in- 
 tersection of the forty-fifth parallel and the 
 twenty-seventh meridian, east from Washington," 
 said the captain. "That's as near as I could locate 
 the wreck. Once we reach that point we will have 
 to search about under water, for I don't fancy 
 the other divers left any buoys to mark the spot." 
 
 It was two days later, after uneventful sailing, 
 partly on the surface, and partly submerged, that 
 
AT THE WRECK 193 
 
 Captain Weston, taking a noon observation, an* 
 nounced : 
 
 "Well, we're here!" 
 
 "Do you mean at the wreck ?" asked Mr. Swift 
 eagerly. 
 
 "We're at the place where she is supposed to 
 lie, in about two miles of water," replied the cap- 
 tain. "We are quite a distance off the coast of 
 Uruguay, about opposite the harbor of Rio dc 
 La Plata. From now on we shall have to nose 
 about under water, and trust to luck." 
 
 With her air tanks filled to their capacity, and 
 Tom having seen that the oxygen machine and 
 other apparatus was in perfect working ordeiv 
 the submarine was sent below on her search. 
 Though they were in the neighborhood of the 
 wreck, the adventurers might still have to do con- 
 siderable searching before locating it. Lower and 
 lower they sank into the depths of the sea, down 
 and down, until they were deeper than they had 
 ever gone before. The pressure was tremendous, 
 but the steel sides of the Advance withstood it 
 
 Then began a search that lasted nearly a week. 
 Back and forth they cruised, around in great 
 circles, with the powerful searchlight focused to 
 disclose the sunken treasure ship. Once Tom, 
 who was observing the path of light in the depths 
 from the conning tower, thought he had seeo the 
 
194 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 remains of the Boldero, for a misty shape loomed 
 up in front of the submarine, and he signaled for 
 a quick stop. It was a wreck, but it had been 
 on the ocean bed for a score of years, and only 
 a few timbers remained of what had been a great 
 ship. Much disappointed, Tom rang for full 
 speed ahead again, and the current was sent into 
 the great electric plates that pulled and pushed the 
 submarine forward. 
 
 For two days more nothing happened. They 
 searched around under the green waters, on the 
 alert for the first sign, but they saw nothing. 
 Great fish swam about them, sometimes racing 
 With the Advance. The adventurers beheld great 
 ocean caverns, and skirted immense rocks, where 
 dwelt monsters of the deep. Once a great octupus 
 tried to do battle with the submarine and crush it 
 in its snaky arms, but Tom saw the great white 
 body, with saucer-shaped eyes, in the path of light 
 and rammed him with the steel point. The crea- 
 ture died after a struggle. 
 
 They were beginning to despair when a full 
 week had passed and they were seemingly as far 
 from the wreck as ever. They went to the sur- 
 face to enable Captain Weston to take another 
 observation. It only confirmed the other, and 
 showed that they were in the right vicinity. But 
 it was like looking for a needle in a haystack, 
 
'AT THE WRECK 195 
 
 almost, to Snd the snnken ship in that depth of 
 water. 
 
 "Well, we'll try again," said Mr. Swift, as the# 
 sank once more beneath the surface. 
 
 It was toward evening, on the second day after 
 this, that Tom, who was on duty in the conning 
 tower, saw a black shape looming up in front of 
 the submarine, the searchlight revealing it to him 
 far enough away so that he could steer to avoid 
 it. He thought at first that it was a great rock, 
 for they were moving along near the bottom, but 
 the peculiar shape of it soon convinced him that 
 this could not be. It came more plainly into 
 view as the submarine approached it more slowly, 
 then suddenly, out of the depths in the illumina- 
 tion from the searchlight, the young inventor saw 
 the steel sides of a steamer. His heart gave at 
 great thump, but he would not call out yet, fear- 
 ing that it might be some other vessel than the 
 one containing the treasure. 
 
 He steered the Advance so as to circle it. As 
 he swept past the bows he saw in big letters near 
 the sharp prow the word, Boldero. 
 
 "The wreck ! The wreck !" he cried, his voice 
 ringing through the craft from end to end. 
 "We've found the wreck at last!" 
 
 "Are you sure?" cried his father, hurrying to 
 his son, Captain Weston following. 
 
196 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 "Positive," answered the lad. The submarine 
 was slowing up now, and Tom sent her around 
 on the other side. They had a good view of the 
 ^sunken ship. It seemed to be intact, no gaping 
 holes in her sides, for only her plates had started, 
 allowing her to sink gradually. 
 
 "At last," murmured Mr. Swift. "Can it be 
 possible we are about to get the treasure?" 
 
 "That's the Boldero, all right," affirmed Cap- 
 tain Weston. "I recognize her, even if the name 
 wasn't on her bow. Go right down on the bottom, 
 Tom, and we'll get out the diving suits and make 
 an examination." 
 
 The submarine settled to the ocean bed. Tom 
 glanced at the depth gage. It showed over two 
 miles and a half. Would they be able to venture 
 out into water of such enormous pressure in the 
 eomparatively frail diving suits, and wrest the 
 gold from the wreck? It was a serious question. 
 
 The Advance came to a stop. In front of her 
 loomed the great bulk of the Boldero, vague and 
 shadowy in the flickering gleam of the searchlight 
 As the gold-seekers looked at hc-r through the 
 bull's-eyes of the conning tower, several great 
 forms emerged from beneath the wreck's bows. 
 
 "Deep-water sharks!" exclaimed Captain 
 Weston, "and monsters, too. But they can't 
 bother us. Now to get out the gold !" 
 
CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 ATTACKED BY SHARKS 
 
 FOR a few minutes after reaching the wreck, 
 which had so occupied their thoughts for the past 
 weeks, the adventurers did nothing but gaze at 
 it from the ports of the submarine. The appear- 
 ance of the deep-water sharks gave them no con- 
 cern, for they did not imagine the ugly creatures 
 would attack them. The treasure-seekers were 
 more engrossed with the problem of getting out 
 the gold. 
 
 "How are we going to get at it ?" asked Tom, 
 as he looked at the high sides of the sunken ship, 
 which towered well above the comparatively small 
 ^Advance. 
 
 "Why, just go in and get it," suggested Mr. 
 Damon. "Where is gold in a cargo usually kept, 
 Captain Weston? You ought to know, I should 
 think. Bless my pocketbook !" 
 
 "Well, I should say that in this case the bullion 
 would be kept in a safe in the captain's cabin," 
 197 
 
ig8 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 replied the sailor. "Or, if not there, in some after 
 part of the vessel, away from where the crew is 
 quartered. But it is going to be quite a problem 
 to get at it. We can't climb the sides of the wreck, 
 and it will be impossible to lower her ladder over 
 the side. However, I think we had better get into 
 the diving suits and take a closer look. We can 
 walk around her." 
 
 "That's my idea," put in Mr. Sharp. "But 
 who will go, and who will stay with the ship?" 
 
 "I think Tom and Captain Weston had better 
 go," suggested Mr. Swift. "Then, in case any- 
 thing happens, Mr. Sharp, you and I will be on 
 board to manage matters." 
 
 "You don't think anything will happen, do you, 
 iiad ?" asked his son with a laugh, but it was not 
 an easy one, for the lad was thinking of the shad- 
 owy forms of the ugly sharks. 
 
 "Oh, no, but it's best to be prepared," answered 
 his father. 
 
 The captain and the young inventor lost no time 
 in donning the diving suits. They each took a 
 heavy metal bar, pointed at one end, to use in as- 
 sisting them to walk on the bed of the ocean, and 
 as a protection in case the sharks might attack 
 them. Entering the diving chamber, they were 
 shut in, and then water was admitted until the 
 pressure was seen, by gages, to be the same as that 
 
ATTACKED BY SHARKS 199 
 
 outside the submarine. Then the sliding steel 
 door was opened. At first Tom and the captain 
 could barely move, so great was the pressure of 
 water on their bodies. They would have been 
 Crushed but for the protection afforded by the 
 ^strong diving suits. 
 
 In a few minutes they became used to it, and 
 stepped out on the floor of the ocean. They could 
 not, of course, speak to each other, but Tom 
 looked through the glass eyes of his helmet at 
 the captain, and the latter motioned for the lad 
 to follow. The two divers could breathe perfect- 
 ly, and by means of small, but powerful lights on 
 the helmets, the way was lighted for them as they 
 advanced. 
 
 Slowly they approached the wreck, and began 
 a circuit of her. They could see several places 
 where the pressure of the water, and the strain 
 of the storm in which she had foundered, had 
 opened the plates of the ship, but in no case were 
 the openings large enough to admit a person. 
 Captain Weston put his steel bar in one crack, 
 and tried to pry it farther open, but his strength 
 was not equal to the task. He made some pe- 
 culiar motions, but Tom could not understand 
 them. 
 
 They looked for some means by which they 
 could mount to the decks of the Eoldero, but none 
 
200 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 was visible. It was like trying to scale a fifty- 
 foot smooth steel wall. There was no place for 
 a foothold. Again the sailor made some peculiar 
 motions, and the lad puzzled over them. They 
 had gone nearly around the wreck now, and as 
 yet had seen no way in which to get at the gold. 
 As they passed around the bow, which was in a 
 deep shadow from a great rock, they caught sight 
 of the submarine lying a short distance away. 
 Light streamed from many bull's-eyes, and Tom 
 felt a sense of security as he looked at her, for it 
 was lonesome enough in that great depth of water, 
 unable to speak to his companion, who was a few 
 feet in advance. 
 
 Suddenly there was a swirling of the water, 
 and Tom was nearly thrown off his feet by the 
 rush of some great body. A long, black shadow 
 passed over his head, and an instant later he saw 
 the form of a great shark launched at Captain 
 Weston. The lad involuntarily cried in alarm, 
 but the result was surprising. He was nearly 
 deafened by his own voice, confined as the sound 
 was in the helmet he wore. But the sailor, too, 
 had felt the movement of the water, and turned 
 just in time. He thrust upward with his pointed 
 bar. But he missed the stroke, and Tom, a mo^ 
 ment later, saw the great fish turn over so that 
 its mouth, which is far underneath its snout, could 
 
ATTACKED BY SHARKS 2OI 
 
 take in the queer shape which the shark evidently 
 thought was a choice morsel. The big fish did 
 actually get the helmet of Captain Weston inside 
 its jaws, but probably it would have found it 
 impossible to crush the strong steel. Still it might 
 have sprung the joints, and water would have 
 entered, which would have been as fatal as though 
 the sailor had been swallowed by the shark. Tom 
 realized this and, moving as fast as he could 
 through the water, he came up behind the mon- 
 ster and drove his steel bar deep into it. 
 
 The sea was crimsoned with blood, and the 
 savage creature, opening its mouth, let go of the 
 captain. It turned on Tom, who again harpooned 
 it. Then the fish darted off and began a wild 
 flurry, for it was dying. The rush of water near- 
 ly threw Tom off his feet, but he managed to make 
 his way over to his friend, and assist him to rise. 
 A confident look from the sailor showed the lad 
 that Captain Weston was uninjured, though he 
 must have been frightened. As the two turned 
 to make their way back to the submarine, the 
 waters about them seemed alive with the horrible 
 monsters. 
 
 It needed but a glance to show what they were. 
 Sharks! Scores of them, long, black ones, with 
 their ugly, undershot mouths. They had been at- 
 tracted by the blood of the one Tom had killed, 
 
202 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 but there was not a meal for all of them off the 
 dying creature, and the great fish might turn on 
 the young inventor and his companion. 
 
 The two shrank closer toward the wreck. They 
 might get under the prow of that and be safe. 
 But even as they started to move, several of the 
 sea wolves darted quickly at them. Tom glanced 
 at the captain. What could they do ? Strong as 
 were the diving suits, a combined attack by the 
 sharks, with their powerful jaws, would do untold 
 damage. 
 
 At that moment there seemed some movement 
 on board the submarine. Tom could see his fa- 
 ther looking from the conning tower, and the 
 aged inventor seemed to be making some motions. 
 Then Tom understood. Mr. Swift was direct- 
 ing his son and Captain Weston to crouch down. 
 The lad did so, pulling the sailor after him. Then 
 Tom saw the bow electric gun run out, and aimed 
 at the mass of sharks, most of whom were con- 
 gregated about the dead one. Into the midst of 
 the monsters was fired a number of small pro- 
 jectiles, which could be used in the electric cannon 
 in place of the solid shot. Once more the waters 
 were red with blood, and those sharks which were 
 not killed swirled off. Tom and Captain Weston 
 were saved. They were soon inside the submarine 
 telling their thrilling story. 
 
ATTACKED BY SHARKS 203 
 
 "It's lucky you saw us, dad," remarked the lad, 
 blushing at the praise Mr. Damon bestowed on 
 him for killing the monster which had attacked 
 the captain. 
 
 "Oh, I was on the lookout," said the inventor. 
 "But what about getting into the wreck?" 
 
 "I think the only way we can do it will be to 
 ram a hole in her side," said Captain Weston. 
 "That was what I tried to tell Tom by motions, 
 but he didn't seem to understand me." 
 
 "No," replied the lad, who was still a little 
 nervous from his recent experience. "I thought 
 you meant for us to turn it over, bottom side up,* ? 
 and he laughed. 
 
 "Bless my gizzard! Just like a shark," com- 
 mented Mr. Damon. 
 
 "Please don't mention them," begged Tom. "I 
 hope we don't see any more of them." 
 
 "Oh, I fancy they have been driven far enough 
 away from this neighborhood now," commented 
 the captain. "But now about the wreck. We may 
 be able to approach it from above. Suppose we 
 ,try to lower the submarine on it ? That will save 
 ripping it open." 
 
 This was tried a little later, but would not 
 work. There were strong currents sweeping over 
 the top of the Boldero, caused by a submerged 
 reef near which she had settled. It was a delicate 
 
204 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 task to sink the submarine on her decks, and witK 
 the deep waters swirling about was found to be 
 impossible, even with the use of the electric plates 
 and the auxiliary screws. Once more the Advance 
 settled to the ocean bed, near the wreck. 
 
 "Well, what's to be done?" asked Tom, as he 
 looked at the high steel sides. 
 
 "Ram her, tear a hole, and then use dynamite/* 
 decided Captain Weston promptly. "You have 
 some explosive, haven't you, Mr. Swift?" 
 
 "Oh, yes. I came prepared for emergencies." 
 
 "Then we'll blow up the wreck and get at the 
 gold." 
 
CHAPTER XXIV 
 
 RAMMING THE WRECK 
 
 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 cal- 
 culated 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 suc- 
 cess, 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 differ- 
 ence 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 
 205 
 
206 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 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 prac- 
 tical, 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 
 j>f the Bolder 'o* and again the submarine shivered 
 from the shock. But there was a bigger hole in 
 the wreck now, and after Captain West on 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 withdrawn to a safe dis- 
 tance. There was a dull rumble, a great swirl- 
 ing of the water, which was made murky; but 
 
RAMMING THE WRECK 
 
 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, Caiptain 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 te 
 operate the diving chamber. 
 
 Walking slowly along the bottom of the sea t 
 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 fa- 
 miliar with ocean craft the captain was permitted 
 to take the lead. He headed aft, seeking to locate 
 
20S TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 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 sud- 
 denly 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 disap- 
 pointment, not a word could be spoken. Mr. 
 Sharp, by vigorous motions, indicated to his com- 
 panions to seek further. 
 
 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." 
 
RAMMING THE WRECK 209 
 
 Idly he raised his steel bar, and struck it against 
 the partition back of the safe. To his astonish- 
 ment the partition seemed to fall inward, reveal- 
 ing a secret compartment. The lad leaned for- 
 ward 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 
 hi'dden 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. Trem- 
 bling from excitement, he went in search o 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 
 
CHAPTER XXV 
 
 HOME WITH THE GOLD 
 
 THERE was no time to be lost. They were in 
 a treacherous part of the ocean, and strong cur- 
 rents 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 af- 
 forded 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, andr 
 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 
 
HOME WITH THE GOLD 211 
 
 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 !" 
 
 "If ycu want my opinion," remarked the sailor, 
 
 "I should say it was the other submarine that 
 
 of Berg and his friends the Wonder. They've 
 
212 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT ' 
 
 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 sug- 
 gested. "We have had trouble enough." 
 
 It was easy to do this, as the Advance was hid- 
 den behind the wreck, and her lights were glow- 
 ing but dimly. Then, too, those in the other sub- 
 marine were so excited over the finding of what 
 they supposed was the wreck containing the 
 treasure, that they paid little attention to any- 
 thing 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 
 
HOME WITH THE GOLD 213 
 
 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 
 with the aft one still in commission, and the aux' 
 iliary screws, thev 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 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 diamohd ring, 
 as he had promised. 
 
 As for Berg and his employers, they were, i* 
 
214 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 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 cot- 
 tage, Tom, his father and Mr. Damon went to 
 Shopton in the airship. Captain Weston, Garret 
 Jackson and Mr. Sharp remained behind in charge 
 of the submarine. It was decided that the Swifts 
 would keep the craft and not sell it to the Govern^ 
 men, 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 beer? 
 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 
 
HOME WITH THE GOLD 
 
 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 
 er ahem one 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." 
 
 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 J.ads 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 
 
216 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 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. n 
 
 "Well, Tom, I certainly appreciate what you 
 did for me in getting me a better position," re- 
 marked 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. Fve 
 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. 
 
 THE END 
 
This Isn't All! 
 
 Would you like to know what 
 became of the good friends you 
 have made in this book? 
 
 Would you like to read other 
 stories continuing their adventures 
 and experiences, or other books 
 quite as entertaining by the same 
 author ? 
 
 On the reverse side of the wrap- 
 per which comes with this book, 
 you will find a wonderful list of 
 stories which you can buy at the 
 same store where you got this book. 
 
 's throw' away the Wrappet 
 
 iJse it as a "handy catalog of the books 
 you want some day to have, ^But in 
 case you do mislay it, write to the 
 Publishers for a complete catalog. 
 
THE TOM SWIFT SERIES 
 
 By VICTOR APPLETON 
 
 Uniform Style of Binding. Individual Colored Wrappers. 
 Every Volume Complete in Itself. 
 
 Every boy possesses some form of inventive genius. Tom Swift 
 is a bright, ingenious boy and his inventions and adventures make 
 the most interesting kind of reading. 
 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE 
 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT 
 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP 
 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT 
 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE 
 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT 
 
 TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS 
 
 TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE 
 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER 
 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE 
 
 TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD 
 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER 
 
 TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY 
 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA 
 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT 
 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON 
 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE 
 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP 
 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL 
 
 TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS 
 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK 
 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT 
 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCH 
 
 TOM SWIFT AMONG THE FIRE FIGHTERS 
 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE 
 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS FLYING BOAT 
 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT OIL GUSHER 
 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS CHEST OF SECRETS 
 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRLINE EXPRESS 
 
 TOM SWIFT CIRCLING THE GLOBE 
 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS TALKING PICTURES 
 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS HOUSE ON WHEELS 
 
 TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG DIRIGIBLE 
 
 GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK 
 
THE TED SCOTT FLYING STORIES 
 
 B? FRANKLIN W, DIXON 
 
 Individual Colored Wrappers and Text Illustrations by 
 
 WALTER S. ROGERS 
 Each Volume Complete in Itself. 
 
 No subject has so thoroughly caught the imagination of 
 young America as aviation. This series has been inspired 
 by recent daring feats of the air, and is dedicated to Lind- 
 berg, Byrd, Chamberlin and other heroes of the skies. 
 
 OVER THE OCEAN TO PARIS ; 
 
 or Ted Scoff's daring long distance flight. 
 
 RESCUED IN THE CLOUDS; 
 
 or, Ted Scott, Hero of the Air. 
 
 OVER THE ROCKIES WITH THE AIR MAIL ; 
 
 or, Ted Scott, Lost in the Wilderness, 
 
 FIRST STOP HONOLULU; 
 
 or, Ted Scott, over the Pacific. 
 
 THE SEARCH FOR THE LOST FLYERS; 
 
 or, Ted Scott, Over the West Indies. 
 
 SOUTH OF THE RIO GRANDE ; 
 
 or, Ted Scott, On a Secret Mission. 
 
 ACROSS THE PACIFIC; 
 
 or, Ted Scott's Hop to Australia. 
 
 THE LONE EAGLE OF THE BORDER ; 
 
 or, Ted Scott and the Diamond Smugglers. 
 
 FLYING AGAINST TIME; 
 
 or, Breaking the Ocean to Ocean Record 
 
 OVER THE JUNGLE TRAILS ; 
 
 or, Ted Scott and the Missing Explorers. 
 
 LOST AT THE SOUTH POLE; 
 
 or, Ted Scott in Blizzard Land. 
 
 GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK 
 
WESTERN STORIES FOR BOYS 
 
 By JAMES CODY FERRIS 
 
 Individual Colored Wrappers and Illustration* by 
 
 WALTER S. ROGERS 
 Each Volume Complete in Itself. 
 
 Thrilling tales of the great west, told primarily for 
 boys but which will be read by all who love mystery, 
 rapid action, and adventures in the great open spaces. 
 
 The Manly Boys, Roy and Teddy, are the sons of 
 an old ranchman, the owner of many thousands of 
 heads of cattle. The lads know how to ride, how to 
 shoot, and how to take care of themselves under any 
 and all circumstances. 
 
 The cowboys of the X Bar X Ranch are real cow- 
 boys, on the job when required but full of fun and 
 daring a bunch any reader will be delighted to know. 
 
 THE X BAR X BOYS ON THE RANCH 
 THE X BAR X BOYS IN THUNDER CANYON 
 THE X BAR X BOYS ON WHIRLPOOL RIVER 
 THE X BAR X BOYS ON BIG BISON TRAIL 
 THE X BAR X BOYS AT THE ROUND-UP 
 THE X BAR X BOYS AT NUGGET CAMP 
 THE X BAR X BOYS AT RUSTLER'S GAP 
 THE X BAR X BOYS AT GRIZZLY PASS 
 THE X BAR X BOYS LOST IN THE ROCKIES 
 
 GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK 
 
-7 
 
 /9/o