tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第25节
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unexpected sight of the submarine； bobbing up 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 anxiety 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 Captain 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 judge 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 company。 I
think I'll put on my dress suit。〃
〃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
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
unfamiliarity with the English language。 〃What craft are you？〃
〃Submarine； Advance； from New Jersey；〃 replied 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 isyes；〃 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 stationing 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 answer 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
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
impossible to offer any resistance； for three men grabbed hold of him but
his spirit was still a fighting one； and 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 filibustering Americans a lesson。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Twenty
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。〃
〃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； hut there was a steely glint in his eyes； and a grim； set look around
his month 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 Fanchetti。 〃And guard them
well； Lieutenant Drascalo； 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
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
a mistake naming him。 It ought to be Rascalo。 He looks like a rascal。〃
〃Silenceo！〃 exclaimed the lieutenant； scowling at the odd character'。
〃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；〃 murmured 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 communicate with the consul；〃
remarked Captain Weston。
〃What do you mean？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless my shoelaces； but
will these scoundrels〃
〃Silenceo！〃 cried Lieutenant Drascalo quickly。
