tom swift & his submarine boat(汤姆·史威夫特和他的潜水艇)-第7章
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a chamber into which water was admitted until it was equal in pressure to
that outside。 Then a steel door was opened； and they could step out。 To re…
enter the ship the operation was reversed。 This was not a new feature。 In
fact； many submarines to…day use it
At certain places there were thick bull's…eye windows； by means of
which the under…water travelers could look out into the ocean through
which they were moving。 As a defense against the attacks of submarine
monsters there was a steel； pointed ram； like a big harpoon。 There were
also a bow and a stern electrical gun； of which more will be told later。
In addition to ample sleeping accommodations。 there were many
conveniences aboard the Advance。 Plenty of fresh water could be carried；
and there was an apparatus for distilling more from the sea water that
surrounded the travelers。 Compressed air was carried in large tanks； and
oxygen could be made as needed。 In short； nothing that could add to the
comfort or safety of the travelers had been omitted。 There was a powerful
crane and windlass； which had been installed when Mr。 Swift thought his
boat might be bought by the Government。 This was to be used for raising
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
wrecks or recovering objects from the bottom of the ocean。 Ample stores
and provisions were to be carried and； once the travelers were shut up in
the Advance； they could exist for a month below the surface； providing no
accident occurred。
All these things Tom and Mr。 Sharp thought of as they looked over the
ship before turning in for the night。 The craft was made immensely strong
to withstand powerful pressure at the bottom of the ocean。 The submarine
could penetrate to a depth of about three miles。 Below that it was
dangerous to go； as the awful force would crush the plates； powerful as
they were。
〃Well； we'll rush things to…morrow and the next day；〃 observed Tom as
he prepared to leave the building。 〃Then we'll soon see if it works。〃
For the next week there were busy times in the shop near the ocean。
Great secrecy was maintained； and though curiosity seekers did stroll
along now and then； they received little satisfaction。 At first Mr。 Swift
thought that the visit of Mr。 Berg would have unpleasant results； for he
feared that the agent would talk about the craft； of which he had so
unexpectedly gotten a sight。 But nothing seemed to follow from his chance
inspection； and it was forgotten。
It was one evening； about a week later； that Tom was alone in the shop。
The two mechanics that had been hired to help out in the rush had been let
go； and the ship needed but a few adjustments to make it ready for the sea。
〃I think I'll just take another look at the water tank valves；〃 said Tom
to himself as he prepared to enter the big compartments which received
the water ballast。 〃I want to be sure they work properly and quickly。 We've
got to depend on them to make us sink when we want to； and； what's more
important； to rise to the surface in a hurry。 I've got time enough to look
them over before dad and Mr。 Sharp get back。〃
Tom entered the starboard tank by means of an emergency sliding door
between the big compartments and the main part of the ship。 This was
closed by a worm and screw gear； and once the ship was in the water
would seldom be used。
The young inventor proceeded with his task； carefully inspecting the
valves by the light of a lantern he carried。 The apparatus seemed to be all
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
right； and Tom was about to leave when a peculiar noise attracted his
attention。 It was the sound of metal scraping on metal； and the lad's quick
and well…trained ear told him it was somewhere about the ship。
He turned to leave the tank； but as he wheeled around his light flashed
on a solid wall of steel back of him。 The emergency outlet had been closed！
He was a prisoner in the water compartment； and he knew； from past
experience； that shout as he would； his voice could not be heard ten feet
away。 His father and Mr。 Sharp； as he was aware； had gone to a nearby
city for some tools； and Mr。 Jackson； the engineer； was temporarily away。
Mrs。 Baggert； in the house； could not hear his cries。
〃I'm locked in！〃 cried Tom aloud。 〃The worm gear must have shut of
itself。 But I don't see how that could be。 I've got to get out mighty soon；
though； or I'll smother。 This tank is airtight； and it won't take me long to
breath up all the oxygen there is here。 I must get that slide open。〃
He sought to grasp the steel plate that closed the emergency opening。
His fingers slipped over the smooth； polished surface。 He was hermetically
sealed upa captive！ Blankly he set his lantern down and leaned
hopelessly against the wall of the tank。
〃I've got to get out；〃 he murmured。
As if in answer to him he heard a voice on the outside； crying：
〃There； Tom Swift！ I guess I've gotten even with you now！ Maybe
next time you won't take a reward away from me； and lick me into the
bargain。 I've got you shut up good and tight； and you'll stay there until I
get ready to let you out。〃
〃Andy Foger！〃 gasped Tom。 〃Andy Foger sneaked in here and turned
the gear。 But how did he get to this part of the coast？ Andy Foger； you let
me out！〃 shouted the young inventor； and as Andy's mocking laugh came
to him faintly through the steel sides of the submarine； the imprisoned lad
beat desperately with his hands on the smooth sides of the tank； vainly
wondering how his enemy had discovered him。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Five
Mr。 Berg is Suspicious
Not for long did the young inventor endeavor to break his way out of
the water…ballast tank by striking the heavy sides of it。 Tom realized that
this was worse than useless。 He listened intently； but could hear nothing。
Even the retreating footsteps of Andy Foger were inaudible。
〃This certainly is a pickle！〃 exclaimed Tom aloud。 〃I can't understand
how he ever got here。 He must have traced us after we went to Shopton in
the airship the last time。 Then he sneaked in here。 Probably he saw me
enter； but how could he knew enough to work the worm gear and close the
door？ Andy has had some experience with machinery； though； and one of
the vaults in the bank where his father is a director closed just like this
tank。 That's very likely how he learned about it。 But I've got to do
something else besides thinking of that sneak； Andy。 I've got to get out of
here。 Let's see if I can work the gear from inside。〃
Before he started； almost； Tom knew that it would be impossible。 The
tank was made to close from the interior of the submarine； and the heavy
door； built to withstand the pressure of tons of water； could not be forced
except by the proper means。
〃No use trying that；〃 concluded the lad； after a tiring attempt to force
back the sliding door with his hands。 〃I've g
