tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第32章
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
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 San Paula 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 escaping 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 accommodation
ladder。
〃Now for the Advance！〃 murmured Captain Weston。
〃Come back！ Come back； dogs of Americans！〃 cried a voice at the rail
over their heads； and looking up； Tom saw Lieutenant Drascalo。 He had
snatched a carbine from a marine； and was pointing it at the recent
prisoners。 He fired； the flash of the gun and a dazzling chain of lightning
coming together。 The thunder swallowed up the report of the carbine； but
the bullet whistled uncomfortable 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 flash came the adventurers saw that they were close to
their submarine。
A fusillade of shots sounded from the deck of the warship； but as the
marines were poor marksmen at best； and as the swaying of the ship
disconcerted 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
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
manage a boat skillfully； and he soon had the craft alongside the bobbing
submarine。
〃Get aboard； now； quick！〃 he cried。
They leaped to the small deck； casting the rowboat adrift。 It was the
work of but a moment to open the conning tower。 As they started to
descend they were met by several Brazilians coming 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 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 happens。〃
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 instant 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
Drascalo 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 time
until deep enough to escape the surface motion。 Waiting until she was far
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
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 contrast 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。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Twenty…Two
At the Wreck
〃Well；〃 remarked Mr。 Damon； as the submarine 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 careless 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； 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 a
