按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
all of it； since the owners have abandoned it； but we would be satisfied
with half。 Let's hurry up； finish the submarine； and have a try for it。〃
〃But； Tom； you forget that I am to enter my new ship in the trials for
the prize offered by the United States Government。〃
〃How much is the prize if you win it？〃 asked Tom。
〃Fifty thousand dollars。〃
〃Well； here's a chance to make three times that much at least； and
maybe more。 Dad； let the Government prize go； and try for the treasure。
Will you？〃
Tom looked eagerly at his father； his eyes shining with anticipation。
Mr。 Swift was not a quick thinker； but the idea his son had proposed made
an impression on him。 He reached out his hand for the paper in which the
young inventor had seen the account of the sunken treasure。 Slowly he
read it through。 Then he passed it to Mr。 Sharp。
〃What do you think of it？〃 he asked of the aeronaut
〃There's a possibility；〃 remarked the balloonist 〃We might try for it。
We can easily go three miles down； and it doesn't lie as deeply as that； if
this account is true。 Yes； we might try for it。 But we'd have to omit the
Government contests。〃
〃Will you； dad？〃 asked Tom again。
Mr。 Swift considered a moment longer。
7
… Page 8…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
〃Yes； Tom； I will；〃 he finally decided。 〃Going after the treasure will be
likely to afford us a better test of the submarine than would any
Government tests。 We'll try to locate the sunken Boldero。〃
〃Hurrah！〃 cried the lad； taking the paper from Mr。 Sharp and waving it
in the air。 〃That's the stuff！ Now for a search for the submarine treasure！〃
8
… Page 9…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Two
Finishing the Submarine
〃What's the matter？〃 cried Mrs。 Baggert； the housekeeper； hurrying in
from the kitchen； where she was washing the dishes。 〃Have you seen some
of those scoundrels who robbed you； Mr。 Swift？ If you have； the police
down here ought to〃
〃No； it's nothing like that；〃 explained Mr。 Swift。 〃Tom has merely
discovered in the paper an account of a sunken treasure ship； and he wants
us to go after it； down under the ocean。〃
〃Oh； dear！ Some more of Captain Kidd's hidden hoard； I suppose？〃
ventured the housekeeper。 〃Don't you bother with it； Mr。 Swift。 I had a
cousin once； and he got set in the notion that he knew where that pirate's
treasure was。 He spent all the money he had and all he could borrow
digging for it； and he never found a penny。 Don't waste your time on such
foolishness。 It's bad enough to be building airships and submarines
without going after treasure。〃 Mrs。 Baggert spoke with the freedom of an
old friend rather than a hired housekeeper； but she had been in the family
ever since Tom's mother died； when he was a baby； and she had many
privileges。
〃Oh； this isn't any of Kidd's treasure；〃 Tom assured her。 〃If we get it；
Mrs。 Baggert； I'll buy you a diamond ring。〃
〃Humph！〃 she exclaimed； as Tom began to hug her in boyish fashion。
〃I guess I'll have to buy all the diamond rings I want； if I have to depend
on your treasure for them；〃 and she went back to the kitchen。
〃Well；〃 went on Mr。 Swift after a pause； 〃if we are going into the
treasure…hunting business； Tom； we'll have to get right to work。 In the first
place； we must find out more about this ship； and just where it was sunk。〃
〃I can do that part；〃 said Mr。 Sharp。 〃I know some sea captains； and
they can put me on the track of locating the exact spot。 In fact； it might not
be a bad idea to take an expert navigator with us。 I can manage in the air
all right； but I confess that working out a location under water is beyond
me。〃
9
… Page 10…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
〃Yes； an old sea captain wouldn't be a bad idea； by any means；〃
conceded Mr。 Swift。 〃Well； if you'll attend to that detail； Mr。 Sharp； Tom；
Mr。 Jackson and I will finish the submarine。 Most of the work is done；
however； and it only remains to install the engine and motors。 Now； in
regard to the negative and positive electric plates； I'd like your opinion；
Tom。〃
For Tom Swift was an inventor； second in ability only to his father； and
his advice was often sought by his parent on matters of electrical
construction； for the lad had made a specialty of that branch of science。
While father and son were deep in a discussion of the apparatus of the
submarine； there will be an opportunity to make the reader a little better
acquainted with them。 Those of you who have read the previous volumes
of this series do not need to be told who Tom Swift is。 Others； however；
may be glad to have a proper introduction to him。
Tom Swift lived with his father； Barton Swift； in the village of
Shopton； New York。 The Swift home was on the outskirts of the town； and
the large house was surrounded by a number of machine shops； in which
father and son； aided by Garret Jackson； the engineer； did their
experimental and constructive work。 Their house was not far from Lake
Carlopa； a fairly large body of water； on which Tom often speeded his
motor
In the first volume of this series； entitled 〃Tom Swift and His Motor…
Cycle；〃 it was told how be became acquainted with Mr。 Wakefield Damon；
who suffered an accident while riding one of the speedy machines。 The
accident disgusted Mr。 Damon with motor…cycles； and Tom secured it for a
low price。 He had many adventures on it； chief among which was being
knocked senseless and robbed of a valuable patent model belonging to his
father； which he was taking to Albany。 The attack was committed by a
gang known as the Happy Harry gang； who were acting at the instigation
of a syndicate of rich men； who wanted to secure control of a certain
patent turbine engine which Mr。 Swift had invented。
Tom set out in pursuit of the thieves； after recovering from their attack；
and had a strenuous time before he loca