tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第22节
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the black object changed。 It appeared to settle down； to be approaching the
top of the conning tower。 Then； with a suddenness 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 be 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 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 the reason for opening the ballast tanks。 He found his
father and Mr。 Sharp somewhat excited 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；〃 explained 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
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
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。〃
〃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 the 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 Mn 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 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 beyond that
part of the ocean。〃
There was no doubt of it； the glow was growing less and less； and ten
minutes later the Advance was speeding along through a sea as black as
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
night。 Then； to avoid running into some wreck； it was necessary to turn on
the searchlight。
〃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 moment； 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。
〃Still following；〃 murmured the young inventor。 〃They're not going to
give up。 But we must make 'emthat's all。〃
He went down to report what he had seen； and a consultation was held。
Captain Weston carefully studied the charts of that part of the ocean； and
finding 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。
〃They won't give up；〃 declared Mr。 Swift hopelessly。
〃No； we've 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。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
〃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 this
speed。 If they don't look out；〃 he went on as he looked from one of the aft
observation windows； 〃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 submarin
