Tom Swift and His Submarine Boat; Or, Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure

s Imp

died away. "The idea of thinking his boat better than ours! I don't like that man,

so, my son. But how

und, looking at the electric propeller plates. I went to grab him just as he stumbled over a board.

to get ahead of me and take advantage, they would do it. But they would not sneak in to steal my ideas. I feel sure of that. Besides, they have a certain type of submarine which they

ur boat is bett

er, in man

at man Berg, tho

firm's boat would go so far ahead of ours that they would get an extra bonus. But I'm glad he didn't see our new method of propulsion.

own Mr. Berg

rm at the same time I got mine for the Advance. It is rather curious that he should come all the way here from Philade

t at the bottom of Mr. Berg's reasons, and they learned to

ubmarine was resting on the ways, ready for launching. They found Mr. Jackson on guar

as he looked up at the cigar-shaped bulk towering

ted Mr. Sharp. "Whether it w

ter," conceded Tom. "But I hope it does.

re was not so much difference in outward construction as there was in the means of

n, was shaped like a Cigar, over one hundred feet long and twenty feet in diameter at the thickest part. It was divid

that a collapsible aluminum container could be distended and filled with a powerful gas. This was to be used if, by any means, the

midships. This gave stability to the craft, and also enabled the same engine to operate both shafts

struction, and were the outcome of an idea of

t of compressed air, shooting out from a rear tube, nor yet a jet of water, by means of which the creature called

d into the one at the rear a positive charge, just as one end of a horseshoe magnet is positive and will repel the north end of a compass needle, while the

along, for water is a good conductor of electricity, while if a positive charge was sent into the rear plate it would serve to push t

ard and aft propellers of the regular type, so that if the electrical plates did

nd powerful pumps. Some of these were for air, and some for water. To sink the submarine below the surface large tanks were filled with water. To insure a more sudden des

ack of the engine-room were the sleeping quarters and the storerooms. The submarine was steered from the forward compartment, and here were also levers, wheels and valves that control

here. This was to be used when the ship was moving along on the surface of the ocean, or merely with the deck awash

e provided with portable oxygen tanks. Then they entered a chamber into which water was admitted until it was equal in pressure to that outside. Then a steel

o the ocean through which they were moving. As a defense against the attacks of submarine monsters there was a steel,

anks, 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. T

made immensely strong to withstand powerful pressure at the bottom of the ocean. The submarine could penetrate to a depth

t day," observed Tom as he prepared to leave t

hen, 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

e two mechanics that had been hired to help out in the rush had been let g

ceived 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,

n the big compartments and the main part of the ship. This was closed by a

apparatus seemed to be all right, and Tom was about to leave when a peculiar noise attracted his attention. It was t

ner 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

hat could be. I've got to get out mighty soon, though, or I'll smother. This tank is airtight, a

lipped over the smooth, polished surface. He was hermetically sealed up-a captive!

o get out,"

m he heard a voice on

won't take a reward away from me, and lick me into the bargain. I've got you s

ou let me out!" shouted the young inventor; and as Andy's mocking laugh came to him faintly through the steel sides of the submarine,