tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第14节
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a rush； and he had a second morning meal with the odd sea captain； who
chuckled heartily when he thought of how Mn 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 carefully 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 objection 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
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
met one of the shipwrecked crew of the Boldero； and he gave me valuable
information。 Now tell me about the craft we are going in。 A good deal
depends on that。〃
Tom hardly knew what to answer。 He recalled what Mr。 Sharp had said
about not wanting 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 confusion。
〃Easy enough。 When Mr。 Berg thought he was pumping me； I was
getting a lot of information from him。 He told me about the submarine 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 speaking of it。〃
〃We were afraid you wouldn't like it；〃 commented Tom。
〃What； the name？；'
〃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 hankering to
go under the surface； after so many years 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 Mn Swift and Mr。 Sharp to learn that Captain
Weston had no objections 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。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
〃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 gave
hearty approval； making one or two minor suggestions； which were carried
out。
〃And so you launch her to…morrow；〃 he concluded； when he had
completed the inspection 〃Well； I hope it's a success； if I may be permitted
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 decided 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；〃 remarked Captain Weston
quietly； looking at his watch。 Then he took an observation through the
telescope。 〃No hostile ships hanging in the 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 decided 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。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
〃Let go！〃 ordered Mr。 Swift； and the various 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。 It 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 final rush； the stern left the ways and the submarine 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 success！ 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；〃 directed 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 co
