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Advance。
〃Here they come！〃 cried Captain Weston。 〃They're going to ram us
again！〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
〃Then I'm going to fire on them！〃 declared Tom savagely。
On came the Wonder； nearer and nearer。 Her speed was rapidly
increasing。 Suddenly she bumped the Advance； and then； as if it was an
unavoidable accident； the rear submarine sheered off to one side。
〃They're certainly at it again！〃 cried Tom； and peering from the bull's…
eye he saw the Wonder shoot past the mouth of the electric cannon。 〃Here
it goes！〃 he added。
He shoved over the lever； making the proper connection。 There was no
corresponding report； for the cannon was noiseless； but there was a slight
jar as the projectile left the muzzle。 The Wonder could be seen to heel
over。
〃You hit her！ You hit her！〃 cried Captain Weston。 〃A good shot！〃
〃I was afraid she was past me when I pulled the lever；〃 explained Tom。
〃She went like a flash。〃
〃No； you caught her on the rudder；〃 declared the captain。 〃I think
you've put her out of business。 Yes； they're rising to the surface。〃
The lad rapidly inserted another ball； and recharged the cannon。 Then
he peered out into the water； illuminated by the light of day overhead； as
they were not far down。 He could see the Wonder rising to the surface。
Clearly something had happened。
〃Maybe they're going to drop down on us from above； and try to sink
us；〃 suggested the youth； while he stood ready to fire again。 〃If they do〃
His words were interrupted by a slight jar throughout the submarine。
〃What was that？〃 cried the captain。
〃Dad fired the bow gun at them； but I don't believe he hit them；〃
answered the young inventor。
〃I wonder what damage I did？ Guess we'll go to the surface to find
out。〃
Clearly the Wonder had given up the fight for the time being。 In fact；
she had no weapon with which to respond to a fusillade from her rival。
Tom hastened forward and informed his father of what had happened。
〃If her steering gear is out of order； we may have a chance to slip
away；〃 said Mr。 Swift 〃We'll go up and see what we can learn。〃
A few minutes later Tom； his father and Captain Weston stepped from
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
the conning tower； which was out of water； on to the little flat deck a short
distance away lay the Wonder； and on her deck was Berg and a number of
men； evidently members of the crew。
〃Why did you fire on us？〃 shouted the agent angrily。
〃Why did you follow us？〃 retorted Torn。
〃Well； you've broken our rudder and disabled us；〃 went on Berg； not
answering the question。 〃You'll suffer for this！ I'll have you arrested。〃
〃You only got what you deserved；〃 added Mr。 Swift。 〃You were acting
illegally； following us； and you tried to sink us by ramming my craft
before we retaliated by firing on you。〃
〃It was an accident； ramming you；〃 said Berg。 〃We couldn't help it。 I
now demand that you help us make repairs。〃
〃Well； you've got nerve！〃 cried Captain Weston； his eyes flashing。 〃I'd
like to have a personal interview with you for about ten minutes。 Maybe
something besides your ship would need repairs then。〃
Berg turned away； scowling； but did not reply。 He began directing the
crew what to do about the broken rudder。
〃Come on；〃 proposed Tom in a low voice； for sounds carry very easily
over water。 〃Let's go below and skip out while we have a chance。 They
can't follow now； and we can get to the sunken treasure ahead of them。〃
〃Good advice；〃 commented his father。 〃Come； Captain Weston； we'll
go below and close the conning tower。〃
Five minutes later the Advance sank from sight； the last glimpse Tom
had of Berg and his men being a sight of them standing on the deck of
their floating boat； gazing in the direction of their successful rival。 The
Wonder was left behind； while Tom and his friends were soon once more
speeding toward the treasure wreck。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Nineteen
Captured
〃Down deep；〃 advised Captain Weston； as he stood beside Tom and
Mr。 Swift in the pilot house。 〃As far as you can manage her； and then
forward。 We'll take no more chances with these fellows。〃
〃The only trouble is；〃 replied the young inventor； 〃that the deeper we
go the slower we have to travel。 The water is so dense that it holds us
back。〃
〃Well； there is no special need of hurrying now；〃 went on the sailor。
〃No one is following you； and two or three days difference in reaching the
wreck will not amount to anything。〃
〃Unless they repair their rudder； and take after us again；〃 suggested Mr。
Swift。
〃They're not very likely to do that；〃 was the captain's opinion。 〃It was
more by luck than good management that they picked us up before。 Now；
having to delay； as they will； to repair their steering gear； while we can go
as deep as we please and speed ahead； it is practically impossible for them
to catch up to us。 No； I think we have nothing to fear from them。〃
But though danger from Berg and his crowd was somewhat remote；
perils of another sort were hovering around the treasure…seekers； and they
were soon to experience them。
It was much different from sailing along in the airship； Tom thought；
for there was no blue sky and fleecy clouds to see； and they could not look
down and observe； far below them； cities and villages。 Nor could they
breathe the bracing atmosphere of the upper regions。
But if there was lack of the rarefied air of the clouds； there was no lack
of fresh atmosphere。 The big tanks carried a large supply； and whenever
more was needed the oxygen machine would supply it。
As there was no need； however； of remaining under water for any great
stretch of time； it was their practice to rise every day and renew the air
supply； also to float along on the surface for a while； or speed along； with
only the conning tower out； in order to afford a view； and to enable