tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第30章
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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 circumstances；〃 was the reply。
〃What do you think about this； Captain Weston？〃
〃Not very much； if I may be allowed the expression；〃 was the answer。
〃Do you think they will dare carry out that threat？〃 asked Mr。 Sharp。
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 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； coming up at that moment。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Twenty…One
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
supplies 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；〃 commented 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
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
sun was very hot
〃Ha！ Bless my napkin…ring！〃 cried Mr。 Damon with something of his
former gaiety。 〃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；〃 observed Captain Weston。
〃Why？〃 inquired Mr。 Sharp。
〃Because we're going to try to escape！〃 exclaimed 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；〃 objected Tom。
〃Once I get aboard the Advance twenty of those brown… skinned
villains won't keep me prisoner；〃 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。 Damon。
〃And I；〃 added Tom and the balloonist
〃That's the way to talk；〃 commented the captain。 〃Now let's eat； for I
see that rascally lieutenant coming this way； and we mustn't appear to be
plotting； or he'll be suspicious。〃
The day passed slowly； and though the prisoners 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 without being directed； harshly
enough at times； to move back amidships。
As night approached the gold…seekers were on the alert for any chance
that might offer to slip away； or even attack their guard； but the number of
Brazilians around them was doubled in the evening； and after supper；
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
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 long 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 been 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 submarine。 They went below through the opened conning
tower； and were gone some time。
〃I hope they don't disturb any of the machinery；〃 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 evolutions by Lieutenant Drascalo； who had them load；
aim and fire blank cartridges at an imaginary line of prisoners。 Tom could
not repress a shudder as he noted the leveled rifles；
