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〃Good！ Then I'm going down to the bottom of the sea！ Tom； fill the
tanks still more。
〃Aye； aye； sir；〃 answered the lad gaily。 〃Now for a new experience！〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
〃And use the deflecting rudder； also；〃 advised his father。 〃That will
hasten matters。〃
Five minutes later there was a slight jar noticeable。
〃Bless my soul！ What's that？〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃Have we hit
something？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Tom with a smile。
〃What； for gracious sake？〃
〃The bottom of the sea。 We're on the bed of the ocean。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Twelve
For a Breath of Air
They could hardly realize it； yet the depth…gage told the story。 It
registered a distance below the surface of the ocean of five thousand seven
hundred feeta little over a mile。 The Advance had actually come to rest
on the bottom of the Atlantic。
〃Hurrah！〃 cried Tom。 〃Let's get on the diving suits； dad； and walk
about on land under water for a change。〃
〃No；〃 said Mr。 Swift soberly。 〃We will hardly have time for that now。
Besides； the suits are not yet fitted with the automatic air…tanks； and we
can't use them。 There are still some things to do before we start on our
treasure cruise。 But I want to see how the plates are standing this
pressure。〃
The Advance was made with a triple hull； the spaces between the
layers of plates being filled with a secret material； capable of withstanding
enormous pressure； as were also the plates themselves。 Mr。 Swift； aided by
Mr。 Jackson and Captain Weston； made a thorough examination； and
found that not a drop of water had leaked in； nor was there the least sign
that any of the plates had given way under the terrific strain。
〃She's as tight as a drum； if you will allow me to make that
comparison；〃 remarked Captain Weston modestly。 〃I couldn't ask for a
dryer ship。〃
〃Well； let's take a look around by means the searchlight and the
observation windows； and then we'll go back；〃 suggested Mr。 Swift。 〃It
will take about two days to get the stores and provisions aboard and rig up
the diving suits； then we will start for the sunken treasure。
There were several powerful searchlights on the Advance； so arranged
that the bow； stern or either side could be illuminated independently。 There
were also observation windows near each light。
In turn the powerful rays were cast first at the bow and then aft。 In the
gleams could be seen the sandy bed of the ocean； covered with shells of
various kinds。 Great crabs walked around on their long； jointed legs； and
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
Tom saw some lobsters that would have brought joy to the heart of a
fisherman。
〃Look at the big fish！〃 cried Mr。 Damon suddenly； and he pointed to
some dark； shadowy forms that swam up to the glass windows； evidently
puzzled by the light。
〃Porpoises；〃 declared Captain Weston briefly。 a whole school of
them。〃
The fish seemed suddenly to multiply； and soon those in the submarine
felt curious tremors running through the whole craft。
〃The fish are rubbing up against it；〃 cried Tom。 〃They must think we
came down here to allow them to scratch their backs on the steel plates。〃
For some time they remained on the bottom； watching the wonderful
sight of the fishes that swam all about them。
〃Well； I think we may as well rise；〃 announced Mr。 Swift； after they
had been on the bottom about an hour； moving here and there。 〃We didn't
bring any provisions； and I'm getting hungry； though I don't know how the
others of you feel about it。〃
〃Bless my dinner…plate； I could eat； too！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃Go up； by
all means。 We'll get enough of under…water travel once we start for the
treasure。〃
〃Send her up； Tom；〃 called his father。 〃I Want to make a few notes on
some needed changes and improvements。〃
Tom entered the lower pilot house； and turned the valve that opened
the tanks。 He also pulled the lever that started the pumps； so that the water
ballast would be more quickly emptied； as that would render the
submarine buoyant； and she would quickly shoot to the surface。 To the
surprise of the lad； however； there followed no outrushing of the water。
The Advance remained stationary on the ocean bed。 Mr。 Swift looked up
from his notes。
〃Didn't you hear me ask you to send her up； Tom？〃 he inquired mildly。
〃I did； dad； but something seems to be the matter；〃 was the reply。
〃Matter？ What do you mean？〃 and the aged inventor hastened to
where his son and Captain Weston were at the wheels； valves and levers。
〃Why； the tanks won't empty； and the pumps don't seem to work。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
〃Let me try；〃 suggested Mr。 Swift； and he pulled the various handles。
There was no corresponding action of the machinery。
〃That's odd；〃 he remarked in a curious voice 〃Perhaps something has
gone wrong with the connections。 Go look in the engine…room； and ask Mr。
Sharp if everything is all right there。〃
Tom made a quick trip； returning to report that the dynamos； motors
and gas engine were running perfectly。
〃Try to work the tank levers and pumps from the conning tower；〃
suggested Captain Weston。 〃Sometimes I've known the steam steering gear
to play tricks like that。〃
Tom hurried up the circular stairway into the tower。 He pulled the
levers and shifted the valves and wheels there。 But there was no emptying
of the water tanks。 The weight and pressure of water in them still held the
submarine on the bottom of the sea； more than a mile from the surface。
The pumps in the engine…room were working at top speed； but there was
evidently something wrong in the connections。 Mr。 Swift quickly came to
this conclusion。
〃We must repair it at once；〃 he said。 〃Tom； come to the engine…room。