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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +The Etext was prepared for Project Gutenberg by Anthony Matonac + +</pre> + +<div> + +<br /><br /> + +<h1>TOM SWIFT<br /> AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCH</h1> + +<div class="center">OR</div> + +<h2>The Treasure on the Floor of the Atlantic</h2> +<br /> + +<div class="center">BY</div> +<br /><br /> + +<div class="title">VICTOR APPLETON</div> + +<hr /> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<div>CHAPTER</div> + +<ul> +<li><a href="#chapteri">UNTOLD MILLIONS</a></li> +<li><a href="#chapterii">A STRANGE OFFER</a></li> +<li><a href="#chapteriii">THINKING IT OVER</a></li> +<li><a href="#chapteriv">AGAINST HIS WILL</a></li> +<li><a href="#chapterv">BUSY DAYS</a></li> +<li><a href="#chaptervi">MARY'S ODD STORY</a></li> +<li><a href="#chaptervii">THE TRIAL TRIP</a></li> +<li><a href="#chapterviii">THE MUD BANK</a></li> +<li><a href="#chapterix">READY TO START</a></li> +<li><a href="#chapterx">STARTLING REVELATIONS</a></li> +<li><a href="#chapterxi">BARTON KEITH'S STORY</a></li> +<li><a href="#chapterxii">IN DEEP WATERS</a></li> +<li><a href="#chapterxiii">THE SEA MONSTER</a></li> +<li><a href="#chapterxiv">IN STRANGE PERIL</a></li> +<li><a href="#chapterxv">TOM TO THE RESCUE</a></li> +<li><a href="#chapterxvi">GASPING FOR AIR</a></li> +<li><a href="#chapterxvii">WHERE IS IT?</a></li> +<li><a href="#chapterxviii">A SEPARATION</a></li> +<li><a href="#chapterxix">THE SERPENT WEED</a></li> +<li><a href="#chapterxx">THE DEVIL FISH</a></li> +<li><a href="#chapterxxi">A WAR REMINDER</a></li> +<li><a href="#chapterxxii">STUDYING CURRENTS</a></li> +<li><a href="#chapterxxiii">AN UNDERSEA COLLISION</a></li> +<li><a href="#chapterxxiv">THE TREASURE SHIP</a></li> +<li><a href="#chapterxxv">THE STEEL BOX</a></li> +</ul> + +<hr /> + +<div class="title">TOM SWIFT AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCH</div> + +<br /><br /> + +<h2><a name="chapteri" id="chapteri">CHAPTER I</a></h2> + +<h3>UNTOLD MILLIONS</h3> + +<p>"Tom, this is certainly wonderful reading! Over a hundred +million dollars' worth of silver at the bottom of the ocean! More +than two hundred million dollars in gold! To say nothing of fifty +millions in copper, ten millions in—"</p> + +<p>"Say, hold on there, Ned! Hold on! Where do you get that stuff; +as the boys say? Has something gone wrong with one of the adding +machines, or is it just on account of the heat? What's the big +idea, anyhow? How many millions did you say?" and Tom Swift, the +talented young inventor, looked at Ned Newton, his financial +manager, with a quizzical smile.</p> + +<p>"It's all right, Tom! It's all right!" declared Ned, and it +needed but a glance to show that he was more serious than was his +companion. "I'm not suffering from the heat, though the +thermometer is getting close to ninety-five in the shade. And if +you want to know where I get 'that stuff' read this!"</p> + +<p>He tossed over to his chum, employer, and friend—for Tom Swift +assumed all three relations toward Ned Newton—part of a Sunday +newspaper. It was turned to a page containing a big illustration +of a diver attired in the usual rubber suit and big helmet, +moving about on the floor of the ocean and digging out boxes of +what was supposed to be gold from a sunken wreck.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that stuff!" exclaimed Tom, with a smile of disbelief as +he saw the source of Ned's information. "Seems to me I've read +something like that before, Ned!"</p> + +<p>"Of course you have!" agreed the young financial manager of the +newly organized Swift Construction Company. "It isn't anything +new. This wealth of untold millions has been at the bottom of the +sea for many years—always increasing with nobody ever spending a +cent of it. And since the Great War this wealth has been +enormously added to because of the sinking of so many ships by +German submarines."</p> + +<p>"Well, what's that got to do with us, Ned?" asked Tom, as he +looked over some blue prints and other papers on his desk, for +the talk was taking place in his office. "You and I did our part +in the war, but I don't see what all this undersea wealth has to +do with us. We've got our work cut out for us if we take care of +all the new contracts that came in this week."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know," admitted Ned. "But I couldn't help calling your +attention to this article, Tom. It's authentic!"</p> + +<p>"Authentic? What do you mean</p> + +<p>"Well, the man who wrote it went to the trouble of getting from +the ship insurance companies a list of all the wrecks and lost +vessels carrying gold and silver coin, bullion, and other +valuables. He has gone back a hundred years, and he brings it +right down to just before the war. Hasn't had time to compile +that list, the article says. But without counting the vessels the +Germans sank, there is, in various places on the bottom of the +ocean today, wrecks of ships that carried, when they went down, +gold, silver, copper and other metals to the value of at least +ten billions of dollars!"</p> + +<p>Tom Swift did not seem to be at all surprised by the explosive +emphasis with which Ned Newton conveyed this information. He +gazed calmly at his friend and manager, and then handed the paper +back.</p> + +<p>"I haven't time to look at it now," said Tom. "But is there +anything new in the story? I mean has any of the wealth been +recovered lately—or is it in a way to be?"</p> + +<p>"Yes!" exclaimed Ned. "It is! A company has been formed in +Japan for the purpose of using a new kind of diving bell, +invented by an American, it seems. The inventor claims that in +his machine he can go down deeper than ever man went before, and +bring up a lot of this lost ocean wealth."</p> + +<p>"Well, every so often an inventor, or some one who calls +himself that, crops up with a new proposal for cleaning up the +untold millions on the floor of the Atlantic or the Pacific," +replied Tom. "Mind you, I'm not saying it isn't there. Everybody +knows that hundreds of ships carrying gold and silver have gone +down in storms or been sunk in war. And some of the gold and +silver has been recovered by divers—I admit that. In fact, if +you recall, my father and I perfected a new style diving dress a +few years ago that was successfully used in getting down to a +wreck off the Cuban coast. A treasure ship went down there, and I +believe they recovered a large part of the gold bullion—or +perhaps it was silver.</p> + +<p>"But this diving bell stunt isn't new, and it hasn't been +successful. Of course a man can go down to a greater depth in a +thick iron diving bell than he can in a diving suit. That's +common knowledge. But the trouble with a diving bell is that it +can't be moved about as a man can move about in a diving suit. +The man in the bell can't get inside the wreck, and it's there +where the gold or silver is usually to be found."</p> + +<p>"Can't they blow the wreck apart with dynamite, and scatter the +gold on the bottom of the ocean?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Yes, they could do that, but usually they scatter it so far, +and the ocean currents so cover it with sand, that it is +impossible ever to get it again. I admit that if a wreck is blown +apart a man in a diving bell can perhaps get a small part of it. +But the limitations of a diving bell are so well recognized that +several inventors have tried adjusting movable arms to the bell, +to be operated by the man inside."</p> + +<p>"Did they work?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"After a fashion, yes. But I never heard of any case where the +gold and silver recovered paid for the expenses of making the +bell and sending men down in it. For it takes the same sort of +outfit to aid the man in the diving bell as it does the diver in +his usual rubber or steel suit. Air has to be pumped to him, and +he has to be lowered and raised."</p> + +<p>"Well, isn't there any way of getting at this gold on the floor +of the ocean?" asked Ned, his enthusiasm a little cooled by the +practical "cold water" Tom had thrown.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, of course there is, in a way," was the answer of the +young inventor. "Don't you remember how my father and I, with Mr. +Damon and Captain Weston, went in our submarine, the Advance, and +discovered the wreck of the Boldero?"</p> + +<p>"I do recall that," admitted Ned.</p> + +<p>"Well," resumed Tom, "there was a case of showing how much +trouble we had. An ordinary diving outfit never would have +answered. We had to locate the wreck, and a hard time we had +doing it. Then, when we found it, we had to ram the old ship and +blow it apart before we could get inside. Even after that we just +happened to discover the gold, as it were. I'm only mentioning +this to show you it isn't so easy to get at the wealth under the +sea as writers in Sunday newspaper supplements think it is."</p> + +<p>"I believe you, Tom. And yet it seems a shame to have all those +millions going to waste, doesn't it?" And Ned spoke as a banker +and financial man, who is not happy unless money is earning +interest all the while.</p> + +<p>"Well, a billion of dollars is a lot," Tom admitted. "And when +you think of all that have been sunk, say even in the last +hundred years, it amazes one. But still, all the gold and silver +was hidden in the earth before it was dug out, and now it's only +gone back where it came from, in a way. We got along before men +dug it out and coined it into money, and I guess we'll get along +when it's under water. No use worrying over the ocean treasures, +as far as I'm concerned."</p> + +<p>"You're a hopeless proposition!" laughed Ned. "You'd never make +a banker, or a Napoleon of finance."</p> + +<p>"That's why my father and I got you to look after our financial +affairs," and Tom smiled. "You're just the one—with your +interest-bearing mind—to keep us off the shoals of business +trouble."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I suppose I can do that, while you and your father go on +inventing giant cannons, great searchlights, submarines, and +airships," conceded Ned. "But this, to me, did look like an easy +way of making money."</p> + +<p>"How's that, Ned?" asked Tom, a new note coming into his voice. +"Were you thinking of going to Japan and taking a hand in the +undersea search?"</p> + +<p>"No. But stock in this company is being sold, and shareholders +stand to win big returns—if the wrecks are come upon."</p> + +<p>"That's just it!" exclaimed Tom. "If they find the wrecks! And +let me tell you, Ned, that there's a mighty big 'if' in it all. +Do you realize how hard it is to find anything on the ocean, to +say nothing of something under it?"</p> + +<p>"I hadn't thought of it."</p> + +<p>"Well, you'd better think of it. You know on the ocean sailors +have to locate a certain imaginary position by calculation, using +the sun and stars as guides. Of course, they have navigation down +pretty fine, and a good pilot can get to a place on the surface +of the ocean and meet another craft there almost as well as you +and I can make an appointment to meet at Main and Broad streets +at a certain hour.</p> + +<p>"But lots of times there are errors in calculations or a storm +comes up hiding the sun and stars, and, instead of a captain +getting to where he wants to, he's anywhere from one to a hundred +miles out. Now the location of Broad and Main Streets doesn't +change even in a storm.</p> + +<p>"And I'm not saying that a location on an ocean changes. I'm +only saying that the least disturbance or error in calculation +makes it almost impossible to find the exact spot. And if it's +that hard on the surface, where you can see what you're doing, +how much harder is it in regard to something on the bottom of the +sea? So don't take any stock in these ocean treasure recovering +companies. They may not be fakes, but they're mighty uncertain."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know that I was really going to buy any stock in +this Japanese concern, Tom. I only thought it would be +interesting to think about. And perhaps you might sell them a +submarine or some of your diving apparatus."</p> + +<p>"Nothing doing, Ned. We've got other plans, my father and I. +There's that new tractor for use in the big wheat-growing belt, +to say nothing of—"</p> + +<p>Tom's remarks were interrupted by voices outside his office +door. One voice, in particular, rose above the others. It said:</p> + +<p>"No can go in! The Master he am busily! No can go in!"</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, Koku!" exclaimed a man, and at the sound of his +voice Tom and Ned smiled. "Nonsense! Of course I can go in! Why, +bless my watch fob, I must go in! I've got the greatest +proposition to lay before Tom Swift that he ever heard of! +There's at least a million in it! Let me pass, Koku!"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Damon!" murmured Tom Swift. "I wonder what he has on his +mind now</p> + +<p>As he spoke the door opened rather violently and a short, stout +man, evidently much excited, fairly burst into the room, +followed, more sedately, by a stranger.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chapterii" id="chapterii">CHAPTER II</a></h2> + +<h3>A STRANGE OFFER</h3> + +<p>"Hello, Tom Swift! Hello, Ned! Glad to see you both! Busy, as +usual, I'll wager. Bless my check book! I never saw you when you +weren't busy at some scheme or other, Tom, my boy. But I won't +take up much of your time. Tom Swift, let me introduce my friend, +Mr. Dixwell Hardley. Mr. Hardley, shake hands with Tom Swift, one +of the youngest, and yet one of the greatest, inventors in the +world! I've told you a little about him, but it would take me all +day to tell you what he really has done and—"</p> + +<p>"Hold on, Mr. Damon!" laughed Tom, as he shook hands with the +man whom Mr. Damon had named Dixwell Hardley. "Hold on, if you +please. There's a limit to it, you know, and already you've said +enough about me to—"</p> + +<p>"Bless my ink bottle, Tom, I haven't said half enough!" +interrupted the little, eccentric man. "Wait until you hear what +he has done, Mr. Hardley. Then, if you don't say he's the very +chap for your wonderful scheme, I'm mighty much mistaken! And +shake hands with Ned Newton, too. He's Tom's financial manager, +and of course he'll have something to say. Though when he hears +how you are going to turn over a couple of million dollars or +more, why, I know he'll be on our side."</p> + +<p>Ned's eyes sparkled at the mention of the money. In truth he +dealt in dollars and cents for the benefit of Tom Swift. Ned +shook hands with Mr. Hardley and Tom motioned Mr. Damon and his +friend to chairs.</p> + +<p>"Now, Tom," went on the strange little man, "I know you're +busy. Bless my adding machine, I never saw you when—"</p> + +<p>At that moment there arose in the corridor outside Tom's +private office a discord of voices, in which one could be heard +exclaiming:</p> + +<p>"Now yo' clear out oh heah! Massa Tom done tole me to sweep +dish yeah place, an' ef yo' doan let me alone, why—why—"</p> + +<p>"Huh! Radicate him big stiff—dat's what! Big stiff! Too stiff +for sweep Master's floor. Koku sweep one hand!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yo' t'ink 'case yo' is sich a big giant, yo' kin git de +best ob ole black Rad! But I'll show yo' dat—"</p> + +<p>"Excuse me a moment," said Tom, with a smile to his guests as +he arose. "Eradicate and Koku are at it again, I'm sorry to say. +I'll have to go out and arbitrate the strike," and he left the +room.</p> + +<p>While he is settling the differences between his faithful old +black servant and Koku, the giant, I will take the opportunity of +telling my new readers something about Tom Swift.</p> + +<p>Those who are familiar with the previous books of this series +may skip this part. But it will give my new audience a better +insight into this story if they will bear with me a moment and +peruse these few lines.</p> + +<p>As related in the first book, "Tom Swift and His Motor Cycle," +the hero seemed born an inventive genius. It was this inventive +faculty which enabled him to take the motor cycle that tried to +climb a tree with Mr. Wakefield Damon on it and make the wreck +into a serviceable bit of mechanism. Thus Tom became acquainted +with Mr. Damon, who among other eccentricities, was always +"blessing" something personal.</p> + +<p>Tom Swift lived in the city of Shopton with his father and +their faithful housekeeper, Mrs. Baggert. It was so named because +the Swift shops were an important industry there. Tom's father, +as well as Tom himself, was an inventor of note, and employed +many men in building machines of various kinds. During the Great +War the services of Tom and his father had been dedicated to the +government.</p> + +<p>There are a number of books dealing with Tom's activities, the +list of titles of which may be found at the beginning of this +volume.</p> + +<p>Sufficient to say here, that Tom invented and operated motor +boats, airships, and submarines. In addition he traveled on many +expeditions with Mr. Damon, Ned, and others. He went among the +diamond makers and it was when he escaped from captivity that he +managed to bring away Koku, the giant, with him. Since then Koku +and Eradicate Sampson, the faithful colored man, had periodic +quarrels as to who should serve the young inventor.</p> + +<p>Besides inventing and using many machines of motive power, Tom +Swift engaged in other industries. He helped dig a big tunnel, he +constructed a photo-telephone, a great searchlight and a monster +cannon. Occasionally he had searched for treasure, once under +the sea, with considerable success.</p> + +<p>Of late his and his father's industries had become so important +that a number of new buildings had been constructed and the plant +greatly enlarged. Ned Newton, who had once worked in a Shopton +bank, became financial manager for Tom and his father, and plenty +of work he found with which to occupy himself.</p> + +<p>Just prior to the opening of this story Tom had perfected a +noiseless aeroplane—or one so nearly silent as to justify the +name. The details of it will be found in the book called "Tom +Swift and His Air Scout." In this mechanism of the air Tom had +had some wonderful experiences, and they had not been at home +more than a few weeks when New Newton broached the subject of +undersea wealth.</p> + +<p>The talk of Tom and his financial manager was interrupted by +the arrival of Mr. Damon and the stranger he had introduced as +Mr. Hardley.</p> + +<p>Eradicate, or "Rad," and Koku, have been mentioned. Rad was an +ancient colored man who once owned a mule named Boomerang. +Sampson was the colored servant's last name, and he declared he +had chosen the one "Eradicate" because in his younger days he was +a great cleaner and whitewasher, "eradicating" the dirt, so to +speak.</p> + +<p>Boomerang had, some time since, gone where all good mules go, +though Eradicate declared he would get another and call him +Boomerang II. But, so far, he had not done so.</p> + +<p>Rad, though too old to do heavy work, still believed he was +indispensable to the welfare of Tom and his father; and as the +giant Koku, who was physically an immense man, held the same +view, it followed there were frequent clashes between the two, as +on the occasion just mentioned.</p> + +<p>"What was the matter, Tom?" asked Ned, when the young inventor +came back into the room.</p> + +<p>"Oh, the same old story," replied Tom. "Rad wanted to sweep the +hall, and Koku insisted he was to do it."</p> + +<p>"What'd you do, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"I settled it by having Rad sweep this hall and sending Koku to +do another—a bigger one I told him. He likes hard work, so he +was pleased. Now we'll have it quiet for a little while. Did I +understand you to say, Mr. Damon, that—er—Mr. Hardley I believe +the name is—had a proposition to make to me</p> + +<p>"That's exactly it, my dear Mr. Swift!" broke in the man in +question. "I have a wonderful offer to make you, and I'm sure you +will admit that it will be well worth your while to consider and +accept it. There will be at least a million in it—"</p> + +<p>"Bless my check book, I thought you said several millions!" +exclaimed Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"So I did," was the rather nettled answer. "I was about to say, +Mr. Damon, that there will be at least a million in it for Mr. +Swift, and another million for myself. There may be more, but I +want to be conservative."</p> + +<p>"Talking in millions, and calling himself conservative," mused +Ned Newton. "Somehow or other I don't just cotton to this +fellow!"</p> + +<p>"When our mutual friend, Mr. Damon, told me about you, my dear +Mr. Swift," went on Mr. Hardley, "I at once came to the +conclusion that you were the very man I wanted to do business +with. I'm sure it will be to our mutual advantage."</p> + +<p>Tom Swift said nothing. He was willing to let the other talk, +while he waited to see how far he would go. And, as Tom said +afterward, he, as had Ned, took an instinctive dislike to Mr. +Hardley. He could not say definitely what it was, but that was +his feeling. That he might be mistaken, he admitted frankly. Time +alone could tell.</p> + +<p>"Have you a half hour to give me while it explain matters?" +asked Mr. Hardley. "I may go farther and say I need considerable +time to go into all the details. May I speak now?"</p> + +<p>To tell the truth Tom Swift had many important matters to +consider, and, in addition, Ned Newton was prepared to go over +some financial ends of the business with Tom. But the young +inventor felt that, in justice to his friend Mr. Damon, who had +brought Mr. Hardley, he could do no less than give the stranger a +hearing. But only the introduction by Mr. Damon brought this +about.</p> + +<p>"I shall be glad to hear what you have to say, Mr. Hardley," +said Tom, as courteously as he could. "I will not go so far as to +say that my time is unlimited, but I will listen to you now if +you care to go into details."</p> + +<p>"That's good!" exclaimed the visitor. "I'm sure that when you +have listened you will agree with me."</p> + +<p>"He's a little bit too sure!" mused Ned.</p> + +<p>"Bless my pocketbook, Tom, but there are millions in it!" +exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Literally millions, Tom!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Hardley settled himself comfortably in his chair and looked +from Tom to Ned.</p> + +<p>"May I speak freely here?" he asked, with obvious intent.</p> + +<p>"You may," the young inventor answered. "Mr. Newton is my +financial manager, and I do nothing of importance without +consulting him. You may regard him as a member of the firm, in +fact, as he does own some stock. My father is practically +retired, and I do not trouble him with unimportant details. So +Mr. Newton and I are prepared to listen to you."</p> + +<p>"Very well, Mr. Swift, I'm going to ask you a question. Have +you all the money you want?"</p> + +<p>Tom laughed.</p> + +<p>"I suppose any man would answer that question in the negative," +he replied. "Frankly, I could use more money, though I am not +poor."</p> + +<p>"So I have heard. Well, would a million dollars clear profit +appeal to you?"</p> + +<p>"It certainly would," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"Then I am prepared to offer you that sum," went on Mr. +Hardley. "But there are certain conditions, and I may say that +this vast wealth is not easy to come at. However, with your +inventive genius, I am sure you will be able to solve the mystery +of the sea. Now then as to details. There lies, on the floor of +the ocean—"</p> + +<p>"Hark!" exclaimed Tom, raising a hand to enjoin silence. "I +think I hear some one coming." At that moment there was a knock +at the door.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chapteriii" id="chapteriii">CHAPTER III</a></h2> + +<h3>THINKING IT OVER</h3> + +<p>"Father, is that you?" asked Tom. "Father hasn't been feeling +well, of late," he said to the assembled company, "and I told him +to go to lie down. But he's hard to manage, and he won't rest +more than ten minutes at a time. My father, I might explain, Mr. +Hardley," Tom went on, "is actively associated with me in +business."</p> + +<p>"So I have understood," said the man who had been introduced by +Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Dis Koku!" came the guttural voice of the giant from the other +side of the door. "Koku want more work. Hall, him all clean. +Maybe I help dat no-good Rad now."</p> + +<p>"No you don't, Koku!" exclaimed the young inventor, with a +laugh. "You keep away from Rad. You'll get to disputing again and +interrupt me, and I have business on hand. Here, wait a minute. +I'll find something for you to do," he went on, opening the door +to disclose the immense man standing outside, a broom in his hand +seeming like a toy.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me one moment," went on Tom to his friends. Taking up +his desk telephone he called one of the shops, asking: "Have you +any heavy work on hand this morning; lifting big castings, or +anything like that? You have? Good! I'll send Koku right over."</p> + +<p>Turning to the giant who apparently had not paid much attention +to the talk over the wire, Tom said:</p> + +<p>"Koku, go over to shop number ten, ask for the foreman, and +he'll keep you busy. There are some five-hundred-pound castings +that need assembling, and you can help him."</p> + +<p>"Good!" exclaimed the giant, with a cheerful grin. "Koku like +big work—no like sweep. Good for women and Rad, but not for +Koku!"</p> + +<p>"He spoke the truth there," remarked Ned Newton, as the giant +stalked down the hall. "I never saw such a strong man. I'm afraid +to shake hands with him, for fear I'll be minus a couple of +fingers in the operation."</p> + +<p>"Well, he's disposed of," remarked Tom, as he closed the door. +"And now, Mr. Hardley, I'm at your service, as far as listening +to your proposition is concerned."</p> + +<p>"Thank you. I shall endeavor to be brief," remarked the +visitor. "Am I correct in assuming that you have had some +experience in submarine work? I believe Mr. Damon mentioned +something of that sort."</p> + +<p>"Submarine work? Bless my hydrometer, I should say so!" +exclaimed the eccentric man. "And not only in submarine, but in +aeroplane! but you don't need any aeroplanes, my dear Mr. +Hardley. It's the submarine end of it that you are interested in, +as far as Tom Swift is concerned. Now go ahead and tell him what +you told me, and how many millions there are in it."</p> + +<p>"Very well," assented the visitor. "Have you ever had any +experience in recovering treasure from sunken wrecks?" he asked +Tom.</p> + +<p>"Yes," was the answer. "And it is curious that you should ask +me that, for my friend here, Ned Newton, and I were just talking +about that very matter. Here's what brought it up," and Tom +showed the page from the Sunday paper.</p> + +<p>"Hum! Yes!" musingly remarked Mr. Hardley. "That's all very +well. Part of it is true; but I imagine most of it is the work of +imagination of some enterprising reporter. Of course there is no +question but that there are untold millions on the bottom of the +ocean. The only trouble, as I think you will agree with me, Mr. +Swift, is in coming at the money."</p> + +<p>"Exactly," said Tom.</p> + +<p>"And will you bear me out when I say that if the wreck of a +treasure ship could be exactly located in water that is not too +deep, half the trouble would be solved?" asked Mr. Hardley.</p> + +<p>"A good share of it would," answered Tom. "That is usually the +chief difficulty—locating the wreck. Nearly always they are +anywhere from one to five miles from where the persons seeking +them think they are. And five miles, or even half a mile, is a +good distance on the bottom of the ocean."</p> + +<p>"Exactly," echoed Mr. Hardley. "Then if I could give you the +exact location of a sunken treasure ship, and prove to you that +the owners had given up the search for it, leaving it open to +salvage on the part of whoever wished to try—would that be any +inducement to you to make an attempt, Mr. Swift?"</p> + +<p>"I should want to hear more about it before I gave an answer," +replied Tom. "As perhaps Mr. Damon has told you, I once went on a +hunt for treasure in my submarine. We found it, but only after +considerable trouble, and then I declared I'd never again engage +in such a search. There wasn't enough net profit in it."</p> + +<p>"But there are millions in this, Tom! Bless my gold tooth, but +there are millions!" cried the excitable Mr. Damon. "Hurry up and +tell him!" he urged his friend.</p> + +<p>"I will," assented Mr. Hardley. "I can readily believe," he +went on, "that the cost of hunting for undersea treasure is +great. I have taken that into consideration. Now, in brief, my +plan is this. I will join forces with you, and bear half the +expense if I am allowed to share half the proceeds. That's fair, +isn't it?" he asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"So far, yes," replied the young inventor.</p> + +<p>"Now then, to business!" exclaimed the visitor. "Will you join +with me in searching for some of the wealth-laden wrecks that are +rotting at the bottom of the sea, Mr. Swift?"</p> + +<p>"Do you mean make an indiscriminate search for any one of a +number of wrecks?" Tom wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"I should want the understanding broad enough to include all +wrecks we might discover," was the answer, "but I have in mind +one in particular now. It is the wreck of the steamer Pandora +which was sunk off the coast of one of the West Indian Islands +about a year ago."</p> + +<p>Ned Newton quickly caught up the page of the Sunday supplement +and scanned the list of wrecks given there.</p> + +<p>"No mention of the Pandora here," he said.</p> + +<p>"No," agreed Mr. Hardley, "the story of this wreck is not +generally known, and the story of the treasure she carried is +hardly known at all. As a matter of fact, this money, mostly in +gold, was to finance a South American revolution, and such +matters are generally kept quiet. That is why nothing much +appeared in the papers about the Pandora. But I happen to know +that she carried over two million dollars in gold, and I know—"</p> + +<p>"Think of that, Tom! Think of that!" cried Mr. Damon. "Two +million dollars in gold! Why bless my—bless my—"</p> + +<p>But the eccentric man could think of nothing adequate to bless +under the circumstances, and he subsided with a murmur.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me for interrupting you," he said to his new friend. +"But I just couldn't help it."</p> + +<p>"That's all right," Mr. Hardley remarked, with a smile that +showed two rows of very even, white teeth. "I don't blame you for +getting excited. Does that interest you?" he asked Tom. "Two +million dollars in gold, besides a quantity of silver —just how +much I don't know."</p> + +<p>"It certainly sounds interesting," replied Tom, with a smile. +"But are you sure of your facts?"</p> + +<p>"Absolutely," was the answer. "I was a passenger on the Pandora +when she was wrecked in a storm. I saw the gold put on board. It +was not taken off, and is on her now as she lies at the bottom of +the sea."</p> + +<p>"And the location?" queried Tom.</p> + +<p>"I know that, too!" said Mr. Hardley eagerly. "I was with the +captain just before we had to abandon ship, and I heard the exact +nautical location given him by an officer who made the +calculation. I have it written down to the second—latitude and +longitude. That will be a help in locating the wreck, won't it?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," Tom had to agree, "it will be. but if you know it, +then the captain and others must know it. And what is to prevent +them from making a search for the Pandora if they have not +already done so</p> + +<p>"The best reason in the world," was the answer. "The boat +containing the captain and the officer who gave him the ship's +position was sunk, and all on board lost. The boat I was in was +the only one picked up, and I believe I am the only one who knows +exactly where the Pandora lies.</p> + +<p>"Now, here is my offer, Mr. Swift," went on the seeker after +the ocean's hidden wealth. "I will bear half the expense of +fitting out a submarine, or for any other kind of expedition to +go in search of the wreck of the Pandora. I will furnish you with +the exact nautical location, as I have it. And when the wealth is +found and brought to the surface, I will give you half—in other +words at least a million dollars! Does that appeal to you?"</p> + +<p>"I must say it is a fair, though perhaps strange, offer," +conceded Tom. "And a million dollars is not made every day nor +every year. But what about the title to this money? After we have +recovered it—provided we are successful—will not some person or +some government lay claim to it?"</p> + +<p>"None can successfully," declared Mr. Hardley. "As I told you, +the money was to finance a revolution. It was raised for an +unlawful purpose, so to speak, and no one has a valid claim to it +under the circumstances, so lawyers whom I have consulted have +told me. But if that is not enough, I have papers to prove that +those who might be called the owners have given up the search for +it. More than a year has elapsed, and though I don't know just +how long it takes to outlaw an under-ocean claim, I feel sure +that we would have a legal and moral right to take this gold if +we could find it."</p> + +<p>"I should want to be satisfied on that point before I undertook +the search," said Tom.</p> + +<p>"Then you will undertake it?" eagerly exclaimed Mr. Hardley.</p> + +<p>"I will think it over," Tom answered quietly—so quietly that +distinct disappointment showed on the face of the visitor.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chapteriv" id="chapteriv">CHAPTER IV</a></h2> + +<h3>AGAINST HIS WILL</h3> + +<p>For a moment it seemed that Mr. Damon, as well as Mr. Hardley, +felt disappointment at Tom's answer, for the eccentric man +exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Bless my leather belt, Tom, but you aren't very keen on making +a million dollars!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I like to make money," the young inventor answered. +"I guess you know that, as well as any one, for you've been with +me on several trips. And I don't mind hard work, nor danger."</p> + +<p>"I'll say you don't!" added Ned, as he thought of some of Tom's +perilous voyages, among the diamond makers and in the caves of +ice.</p> + +<p>"Well, if you are anxious to make money, as I admit I am," said +Mr. Hardley, "why can't you give me an answer now?"</p> + +<p>"Because," answered Tom, "there are many things to be +considered. Hunting for a treasure on the floor of the Atlantic +isn't like going to some location on land, however wild or +inaccessible it might be. Do you realize, Mr. Hardley, what a +large difference in miles a small error in nautical calculations +makes? We might go to the exact spot where you thought the wreck +of the Pandora lies, only to find that we would have to hunt +around a long time.</p> + +<p>"I must think of that, and also think of my other business +affairs. Then, too, there is my father. He is getting old, and +while he is still active in the affairs of the company, +particularly when it comes to taking up new lines of work, I do +not like to think of leaving him, as I should have to, in case I +went on this trip."</p> + +<p>"Take him along!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "He's gone with us +before, Tom."</p> + +<p>"He's too old now," said the young inventor a bit sadly. +"Father will never make another extended trip. But I will let you +have my answer as soon as I can, Mr. Hardley, and I will give the +matter considerable thought."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I hope you will, and also that you will consent to +go," was the answer. "A million is not easily to be come at in +these days after the Great War."</p> + +<p>"I realize that," agreed Tom with a smile. "And you shall have +my answer as soon as possible."</p> + +<p>With this the visitor was forced to be content, and a little +later he withdrew with Mr. Damon, the latter telling Tom that he +would see him. again soon.</p> + +<p>"Well, that was queer, wasn't it?" remarked Ned, when he and +Tom were alone again.</p> + +<p>"What was?" asked Tom, as though his mind was far away, as +indeed it was.</p> + +<p>"That this man should come in with his project to search for a +sunken treasure wreck just as we were talking about how many +millions were on the bottom of the ocean."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it was quite a coincidence," Tom admitted.</p> + +<p>"What do you think of it—and him?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Well, to tell you the truth, I didn't take a great fancy to +Mr. Hardley," Tom said. "I think he's altogether too cocksure, +and takes too much for granted. Still I may misjudge him. +Certainly he doesn't have a chance at a million dollars every +day."</p> + +<p>"Do you think you could get the treasure out of this wreck, +Tom, if you could locate her?"</p> + +<p>"Why, it's possible; yes. We proved that with the Boldero."</p> + +<p>"Would you use the same submarine?"</p> + +<p>"No, I think I'd have to rebuild it, or make an altogether new +one. Possibly I might get one of Uncle Sam's and add some +improvements of my own."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you could do that," agreed Ned. "You've done so much for +the government that it couldn't refuse you something reasonable, +now that the war is over. Then do you think you'll go?"</p> + +<p>"Really, Ned, I can't make up my mind yet. Now let's forget the +Pandora and all the millions and get down to business. This +Criterion company seems to me to want altogether too much, We'll +have to trim their request down a bit. They owe the money and +ought to pay it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'll get after them," said Ned, and then he and his chum, +as well as employer, plunged into a mass of business details.</p> + +<p>It was the next afternoon, when Tom, following a strenuous +morning of work, leaned back in his chair at his desk, that Mr. +Damon was announced.</p> + +<p>"Tell him to come in," ordered Tom, always glad to see his +friend. "Wait a minute, though!" he called to the messenger. "Is +any one with him?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; he is alone."</p> + +<p>"Good! Then show him right in. I was afraid," said Tom to Ned, +who was also in the office, "that he had Hardley with him. I'm +not quite ready to see him yet."</p> + +<p>"Then you haven't made up your mind about going for the +treasure?"</p> + +<p>"Not exactly. I shall, perhaps, this week."</p> + +<p>"Bless my matchbox, Tom, but I'm glad to see you!" cried Mr. +Damon, as he hastened forward with outstretched hand. "I was +afraid you might be out. Now look here! What about my friend +Hardley? He's very anxious to know your decision about going for +that treasure, and I said I'd come over and sound you. I don't +mind saying, Tom, that if you go I'm going too; if you'll take +me, of course."</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Damon, you know you'll always be welcome, as far as +I am concerned," said the young inventor; "but, as a matter of +fact, I don't believe I'm going."</p> + +<p>"What? Not going to pick up a million dollars off the floor of +the ocean, Tom? Bless my bank balance! but that's foolish, it +seems to me."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it is, but I can't help it."</p> + +<p>"What's your principal objection?" asked the eccentric man. "It +isn't that you don't want the money, is it?"</p> + +<p>"Not exactly."</p> + +<p>"Then it must be that you object to Mr. Hardley personally." +went on Mr. Damon. "I began to suspect that, Tom, and I want to +say that you are wrong. Mr. Hardley is a friend of mine—a good +friend. I have not known him long, but he strikes me as being all +right. He had some good letters of introduction, and I believe he +has money."</p> + +<p>"Where'd he get it?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, exactly. Seems to me I heard him mention silver +mines, or it may have been gold. Anyhow, it had something to do +with getting wealth out of the ground. Now, Tom, I don't mind +saying that I stand to make a little money in case this thing +goes through."</p> + +<p>"How's that, Mr. Damon?" asked the young scientist in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Why, I agreed to bear part of the expense," was the answer. "I +thought this was a pretty good scheme, and when Mr. Hardley came +to me and told me of the possibilities I agreed to help him +finance the expenses. That is, I have taken shares in the company +he formed to raise his half of the expense money.</p> + +<p>"Of course I thought of you at once when he spoke of having to +search out a sunken wreck, and I proposed your name. He'd heard +of you, he said, but didn't know you. So I brought you together +and now—bless my apple pie, Tom! I hope you aren't going to turn +down a chance to make a million and, incidentally, help an old +friend."</p> + +<p>"Well," remarked Tom, slowly, "I must admit, Mr. Damon, that I +didn't think you'd go into a thing like this. Not that it is more +risky than other schemes, but I thought you didn't care for +speculation."</p> + +<p>"Well, this sort of appealed to me Tom. You know—sunken wreck +under the ocean, down in a diving bell perhaps, and all that! +There's romance to it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, there is romance," agreed Tom. "And hard work, too. If I +undertook this it would mean an extra lot of work getting ready. +I suppose I could use my own submarine. I could get her in +commission, and make improvements more quickly than on any +other."</p> + +<p>"Then you'll go?" quickly cried the eccentric man.</p> + +<p>"Well, since you tell me you are interested financially, I +believe I will," assented Tom, but he spoke reluctantly. "As a +matter of fact, I am going against my better judgment. Not that I +fear we shall be in danger," he hastened to add; "but I think it +will prove a failure. However, as Mr. Hardley will bear half the +expense, and as by using my own submarine that will not be much, +I'll go!"</p> + +<p>"Then I'll tell him!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Hurray! This is +great! I haven't had an exciting trip for a long while! Don't +tell my wife about it," he begged Tom and Ned. "At least not +until just before we start. Then she can't object in time. I'll +have a wonderful experience, I know. This will be good news to +Dixwell Hardley!"</p> + +<p>And as Mr. Damon hastened away to acquaint his new friend with +Tom's decision, the young inventor remarked to Ned:</p> + +<p>"I'll go; but, somehow, I have a feeling that something will +happen."</p> + +<p>"Something bad?" asked the financial manager. "No, I wouldn't +go so far as to say that. But I believe we'll have trouble. I'll +start on the search for the sunken millions, but rather against +my better judgment. However, maybe Mr. Damon's luck and good +nature will pull us through!"</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chapterv" id="chapterv">CHAPTER V</a></h2> + +<h3>BUSY DAYS</h3> + +<p>Once Tom Swift had made up his mind to do a thing he did it— +even though it was against his better judgment. His word, passed, +was his bond.</p> + +<p>In conformity then with his decision to take Mr. Damon and the +latter's friend, Mr. Hardley, on an undersea search for treasure, +Tom at once proceeded to make his preparations. Ned, too, had his +work to do, since the decision to make what might be a long trip +would necessitate a change in Tom's plans. But, as in everything +he did, he threw himself into this whole-heartedly and with +enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>Not once did Tom Swift admit to himself that he was going into +this scheme because he thought well of it. It was all for Mr. +Damon, after Tom had learned that his friend had invested +considerable money in a company Mr. Hardley had formed to pay +half the expenses of the trip.</p> + +<p>Tom even tried to buy Mr. Damon off, by offering the latter +back all the money the eccentric man had invested with his new +friend. But Mr. Damon exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Bless my gasolene tank, Tom! I'm in this thing as much for the +love of adventure, as I am for the money. Now let's go on with +it. You will like Hardley better when you know him better."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," said Tom dryly, but he did not think so.</p> + +<p>The young inventor insisted, before making any preparations for +the trip, that all the cards be laid on the table. That is, he +wanted to be sure there had been such a ship as the Pandora, that +she was laden with gold, and that she had sunk where Mr. Hardley +said she had. The latter was perfectly willing to supply all +needful proofs, even though some were difficult, because of the +nature of the voyage of the treasure craft. As a filibuster she +was not trading openly.</p> + +<p>"Here are all the records," said Mr. Hardley to Tom one day, +when the young inventor, Ned, and Mr. Damon were gathered in +Tom's office. "You may satisfy yourself."</p> + +<p>And, with Ned's help, Tom did.</p> + +<p>There was no question but what the Pandora had sailed from a +certain port on a certain date. The official reports proved that. +And that she did carry a considerable treasure in gold was also +established to the satisfaction of Tom Swift. Because the gold +was to be used for furthering ends against one of the South +American governments, the gold shipment was not insured and, in +consequence, no recovery could be made.</p> + +<p>"Then you are satisfied, are you, Mr. Swift, that the ship, set +out with over two millions in gold on board?" asked Mr. Hardley. + "Yes, that seems to be proved," Tom admitted, and Ned nodded. + "The next thing to prove is that she foundered in a storm about +the position I am going to tell you," went on Mr. Damon's friend.</p> + +<p>"He doesn't tell you the exact location now, Tom," explained +Mr. Damon, "because it might leak out. He'll disclose it to us as +soon as we are out of sight of land in the submarine."</p> + +<p>"I'm willing to agree to that proposition," Tom said. "But I +want to be sure she really did sink."</p> + +<p>This was proved to him by official records. There was no +question but that the Pandora had gone down in a big storm. And +Mr. Hardley was on board. He proved that, too, a not very +difficult task, since the official passenger list was open to +inspection.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hardley repeated his story about having overheard the exact +location of the ship a few minutes before she sank, and he also +told of the captain and several members of the ship's company +having been drowned. This, too, was confirmed.</p> + +<p>"Then," went on Mr. Hardley, "all that remains for me to do is +to deposit at some bank my half of the expenses and await your +word to go aboard the submarine."</p> + +<p>"I believe that is all," returned Tom. "But, on my part, it +will take some little time to fit the submarine out as I want to +have her. There are some special appliances I want to take along +which will aid us in the search for the gold, if we find the +place where the Pandora is sunk."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we'll find that all right," declared Mr. Hardley, "if you +will only follow my directions."</p> + +<p>Tom looked slightly incredulous, but said nothing.</p> + +<p>Then followed busy days. The submarine Advance, which had made +several successful trips, as related in the book bearing the +title, "Tom Swift and His Submarine Boat," was hauled into dry +dock and the work of overhauling her begun. Tom put his best men +to work, and, after a consultation with his father, decided on +some radical changes in the craft.</p> + +<p>"Tom, my boy," said the aged Mr. Swift, "I wish you weren't +going on this trip."</p> + +<p>"Why, Dad?" asked the young inventor.</p> + +<p>"Because I fear something will happen. We don't really need +this money, and suppose—suppose—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm not worrying, Dad," was the answer. "I've taken worse +risks than this, many a time. I'm really doing it as a favor to +Mr. Damon. He's got too much money invested to let him lose it. +And we can use a million dollars ourselves. It will enable me to +put in operation a plan to pension our workmen. I've long had +that in mind, but I've never had enough capital to carry it out."</p> + +<p>"Well, of course, Tom, that's a worthy object, and I won't make +any further objections. But take my advice, and strengthen the +submarine."</p> + +<p>"Why, Dad?" asked Tom in some surprise. "Because you'll find +the water there of a greater depth than you think," was the +answer. "I know you have the official hydrographic charts, but +there's a mistake, I'm sure. I once made a study of that part of +the ocean, and there are currents there at certain seasons of the +year that no one suspects, and deep caverns that aren't charted. +If the Pandora lies in one of these you'll need a great strength +of walls to your submarine to withstand the pressure of deep +water."</p> + +<p>The craft Tom Swift proposed to use in searching for the +treasure ship Pandora was of the regular cigar-shape, but inside +it had many special features. It was more comfortable than the +usual submarine, not being intended for fighting, though it did +carry guns and a torpedo tube. Tom intended renaming the craft, +which had been called Advance, and one day, when there had been +some discussion as to what the undersea craft ought to be called, +Ned explained:</p> + +<p>"Why don't you name it after her?"</p> + +<p>"After whom?" inquired Tom, in some surprise, looking up from a +letter he was writing.</p> + +<p>"Your friend and future wife, Mary Nestor," answered Ned. "I'm +sure she'd appreciate it."</p> + +<p>"That isn't such a bad idea," conceded Tom musingly. "The only +thing about it is that I don't want Mary's name bandied about +that way."</p> + +<p>"Use her initials, then," suggested Ned.</p> + +<p>"How do you mean</p> + +<p>"Why not call it the M. N. 1.? Isn't that a good name?"</p> + +<p>"The M. N. 1." mused Tom. "Not so bad. If the N. C. 4 flew over +the ocean the M. N. 1 ought to be able to navigate under it. I +think I'll do that, Ned."</p> + +<p>So the Advance, rebuilt and refitted in many ways, was +christened the M. N. 1, and a wonderful craft she proved to be. +Mary Nestor was quite pleased when Tom told her what he had done. +She appreciated the delicate compliment he had paid her.</p> + +<p>Busy and more busy were the days that passed. As the M. N. 1 +had to be refitted some miles from Tom's home, where it was +feasible to launch her for the trip, he had to make the journey +between the drydock and his shop either by automobile or +aeroplane. Often he choose the latter, since he had a number of +small, speedy craft in his hangars. Sometimes Ned or Mr. Damon +went with him, but Mr. Hardley could never be induced to ride in +an airship.</p> + +<p>"I'll travel on the ocean or under it," he said, "but I'm not +going to take a chance in the air. I'm too afraid of falling."</p> + +<p>"Tom, what's this?" asked Ned one day, when he and Tom had come +to see how the work of remodeling the submarine was getting +along. "It looks like something you used when you dug your big +tunnel."</p> + +<p>"That's a new kind of diving bell," Tom answered. "You know it +isn't easy to get treasure out of a sunken ship. It isn't like +picking it off the bottom of the ocean. We've got to get it out +from inside—perhaps from inside a strong box or a safe. This +bell may come in useful."</p> + +<p>"Can't you use the special diving suits that you always used to +carry?" the financial manager wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"We might, if the water isn't too deep," replied Tom. "But you +know there is a limit to how far down a man in even my kind of +diving dress can go. With this diving bell a much greater depth +can be reached. And this diving bell is not like any you have +ever seen or read about. My father gave me the idea for it. I'll +demonstrate it to you some day."</p> + +<p>A diving bell is shaped like its name. A common glass tumbler +thrust down into a pail of water, with the open side down, will +show exactly the principle on which a diving bell works. It +illustrates the fact that two things cannot occupy the same place +at the same time.</p> + +<p>Pushing the tumbler, open end down, into the pail of water, +leaves a space in the upper end of the tumbler which the water +cannot fill, because it is already occupied with air. Imagine a +big tumbler, made of thick steel, lowered into the water. Air +pumped into the upper part not only keeps the water from +entering, but also enables a man inside to breathe and to move +about inside the bell which may be lowered to the floor of the +ocean. But, as Tom told Ned, his diving bell was a big +improvement over those commonly used.</p> + +<p>The two young men inspected the progress made in refitting the +submarine, and Tom expressed himself as satisfied.</p> + +<p>"How soon do you think you can start?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"In about two weeks," was the answer. "I'll want to get to the +West Indies before the fall storms start. Not only will it be +impossible to make a search then, but the very location of the +sunken wreck may be changed."</p> + +<p>"How so?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Because of undersea currents. They are strong enough, not only +to sweep a wreck away from the place where it may have settled, +but they may cover it with sand, and then it is hopeless to try +to dig it out. So We've got to go soon, if we go at all."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm with you!" exclaimed Ned. "Hello! here's some one +looking for you, I guess," he added, as a boy came hurrying down +to the dock from the temporary office Tom had set up there.</p> + +<p>"You're wanted on the telephone, Mr. Swift," said the +messenger. "It's important, too."</p> + +<p>"All right. I'll come at once," was the answer. "Hope it isn't +bad news," mused Ned, as his chum hurried on in advance. "Maybe +Hardley has found out he hasn't a right to search for that sunken +gold after all. That would be too bad for Mr. Damon!"</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chaptervi" id="chaptervi">CHAPTER VI</a></h2> + +<h3>MARY'S ODD STORY</h3> + +<p>"Hello! Hello! Yes, this is Tom Swift. What's that? You've had +an accident? Great Scott, Mary! I hope you aren't hurt."</p> + +<p>Ned overheard these words as he stood outside the temporary +office, from inside which Tom Swift was telephoning.</p> + +<p>"There's been an accident!" thought the financial manager. "I +wonder if I can help?"</p> + +<p>He was about to hurry in to offer his services when he heard +Tom laugh, and then he knew it was all right. He heard his chum +say:</p> + +<p>"I'll be right over and get you. Just where are you?"</p> + +<p>Then followed a period of listening on the part of Tom, to be +broken by the words:</p> + +<p>"All right, I'll be right with you. Lucky I have my Air Scout +with me. You aren't afraid to ride in that, are you? No, that's +good! I'll be right over. Ned is here with me, and I'll have him +telephone to your father and mother."</p> + +<p>With that Tom hung up the receiver and joined his chum.</p> + +<p>"Mary had a slight automobile accident about five miles from +here," Tom told his chum. "Some green driver ran into her and +dished one of her wheels. No one hurt, but she hasn't a spare +wheel and can't navigate. She called me up at the house, not +wishing to alarm her father, and Mrs. Baggert told her you and I +had come down to the dock, so she reached me here. I'll go in the +small aeroplane and get her. Luckily I left it here the last time +I made a trip. Will you call up Mary's home and let them know +she's all right and that I'll soon be home with her? They might +hear an exaggerated account of the accident."</p> + +<p>Ned promised to do this, and at once put in a call for the home +of his chum's fiancee, while Tom had one of his men run out the +Air Scout. This was an aeroplane recently perfected by the young +inventor which slipped through space with scarcely a sound. So +silent was it that the craft had been dubbed "Silent Sam," and it +stood Tom in good stead as those of you know who have read the +volume just before the present book. This sky glider Tom would +now use in going to the rescue of Mary Nestor was not, however, +the same large craft that figured in the previous story. That +airship had been given to the United States government for war +purposes. But Tom had built himself a smaller one for his own +use. It had the advantage of enabling him to carry on a +conversation with his passenger when he took one aloft.</p> + +<p>About a week before Tom and Ned had flown from Shopton to the +dry dock where the submarine was being reconstructed in this +small airship. Engine trouble had developed after they had +landed, and they had gone back by automobile, leaving the Air +Scout to be repaired. This had been done, and now Tom intended to +use it in going to Mary's rescue.</p> + +<p>Now, when the Air Scout had been run out of the hangar, Tom +climbed into it.</p> + +<p>"Sorry I can't take you along," he called to Ned, who had +finished telephoning to Mary's home, "but, under the +circumstances—"</p> + +<p>"Two's company and three's a crowd!" laughed Ned. "I know!"</p> + +<p>"No, I didn't mean that," Tom said. "You know Mary likes you, +but this will carry only two."</p> + +<p>"I know!" answered his chum. "On your way!"</p> + +<p>And with an almost noiseless throb of her engine and a whirr of +her propeller, the aeroplane rolled swiftly over the level +starting ground and took the air like a swan leaving its lake.</p> + +<p>Tom did not rise to a great height, as he would need only a few +minutes to reach the place where Mary was stalled by the accident +to her machine. Soon he was hovering over a level field, one of +several that lined the country highways in that section. A small +crowd on the turnpike gathered about an evidently disabled +automobile gave Tom the clew he needed, and presently he made a +landing. Instantly the throng of country people who had gathered +to look at the automobile crash deserted that for a view of +something more sensational—an airship.</p> + +<p>Cautioning the boys who gathered about not to "monkey" with any +of the mechanism, Tom hastened over to where Mary was standing +near her car.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure you aren't hurt?" he asked her anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, very sure," she replied, smiling at him. "It isn't +much of an accident—only one wheel smashed. We were both going +slowly."</p> + +<p>"But it was all my fault!" insisted a young fellow who had been +driving the car that crashed into Mary's. "I'm all kinds of +sorry, and of course I'll pay all damages. I wanted this young +lady to let me drive her home and then send a garage man to tow +her car, but she said she had other plans. I don't blame her for +not wanting to ride in my jitney bus when I see what kind of car +you have," and he looked over toward Tom's aeroplane.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, just the same," murmured Mary. "I'm not quite sure +that it was all your fault. But if you will be so good as to send +a man after my machine I'll go back with Mr. Swift. Wait until I +get my bag," she added, and she extracted it from the seat in her +automobile. "There'll be room for this, won't there?" she asked. +"I've been shopping."</p> + +<p>"You must have made some large purchases," laughed Tom, looking +critically at the small bag. "Yes, there'll be room for that, all +right."</p> + +<p>He made a brief examination of Mary's machine, ascertaining +that the dished wheel was the main damage, and then, having given +the young man who caused the accident directions for the garage +attendant, Tom led his pretty companion across the field to the +waiting airship.</p> + +<p>Of course a crowd gathered to see them start off, and this was +not long delayed, as Tom was not fond of curiosity seekers. In a +few minutes he and Mary were soaring aloft.</p> + +<p>"Well, how are you?" he asked Mary, when they were alone well +above the earth.</p> + +<p>"Fine and dandy," she answered, smiling at him, for they were +riding side by side and could converse with little difficulty +owing to the silent running of Tom's latest invention. "I'm sorry +to have called you away from your work," she added, "but when +Mrs. Baggert told me you were at the submarine dock I thought +perhaps you could run out and get me in your machine. I didn't +expect you to fly to me."</p> + +<p>"I'm always ready to do that!" exclaimed Tom, as he shot +upward to avoid a bank of low-lying clouds. "Were you frightened +at the crash in the machine?"</p> + +<p>"Not greatly. I saw it coming, and knew it was unavoidable. +That chap hasn't been running autos very long, I imagine, and he +lost his head in the emergency. But I had my brakes on and he +just coasted into me. I was lucky in that it wasn't worse."</p> + +<p>"I should say so! Do you want to get right home?"</p> + +<p>"I think I'd better. Mother and father may be a little worried +about me. And they've had trouble enough of late."</p> + +<p>"Trouble!" exclaimed Tom, in a questioning voice. "Anything +serious?"</p> + +<p>"No, just family financial matters. Not ours she hastened to +add, as she saw Tom look quickly at her. "A relative. I shouldn't +have mentioned it, but father and mother are a little worried, +and I don't want to add to it."</p> + +<p>"Of course not," agreed Tom. "If there's anything I can do?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I expected you to say that!" laughed Mary. "Thanks. If +there is we'll call on you. But it may all be straightened out. +Father was expecting a message from Uncle Barton today. So, +though I'd like to take a cloud-ride with you, I think I'd better +get home."</p> + +<p>"All right," agreed Tom. "I told Ned to telephone that you were +all right, so they won't worry. And now try to enjoy yourself."</p> + +<p>"I'll try," promised Mary, but it was obvious, even from the +quick glances Tom gave her, that she was worried about something. +Mary was not her usual, spontaneous, jolly self, and Tom realized +it.</p> + +<p>"Well, here we are!" he announced a little later, as they +soared above a level field not far from her home. "Sorry I can't +let you down right on your roof, but it isn't flat enough nor big +enough."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't mind a little walk, especially as I didn't have to +hike it all the way in from Bailey Corners," she said, referring +to the place of the automobile accident. "I suppose the time will +come when everybody who now has an auto will have an airship and +a landing place, or a starting place, for it at his own door," +she added.</p> + +<p>"Either that, or else we'll have airships so compact that they +can set off and land in as small a space as an auto now +requires," said Tom. "The latter would be the best solution, as +one great disadvantage of airships now is the manner of starting +and stopping. It's too big."</p> + +<p>Tom left his Air Scout in a field owned by Mr. Nestor, where he +had often landed before, and walked up to the house with Mary.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm glad you're back!" exclaimed Mrs. Nestor, when she saw +the two coming up the steps.</p> + +<p>"You weren't worried, were you, after Ned telephoned?" asked +Tom.</p> + +<p>"Not exactly worried, but I thought perhaps he was making light +of it. Do tell me what happened, Mary!"</p> + +<p>Thereupon the girl related all the circumstances of the smash, +and Tom added his share of the story.</p> + +<p>"Did father hear anything from Uncle Barton?" asked Mary, after +her mother's curiosity had been satisfied.</p> + +<p>"Yes," was the answer, in rather despondent tones, "he did, but +the news was not encouraging. The papers cannot be found."</p> + +<p>"It's mother's brother we're talking about," Mary explained to +Tom. "Barton Keith in his name. Perhaps you remember him?"</p> + +<p>"I've heard you speak of him," Tom admitted.</p> + +<p>"Well," resumed Mary, "Uncle Barton is in a. peck of trouble. +He was once very rich, and he invested heavily in oil lands, in +Oklahoma, I believe."</p> + +<p>"No, in Texas," corrected Mrs. Nestor.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it was Texas," agreed Mary. "Well he bought, or got, +somehow, shares in some valuable oil lands in Texas, and expected +to double his fortune. Now, instead, he's probably lost it all."</p> + +<p>"That's too bad!" exclaimed Tom. "How did it happen?"</p> + +<p>"In rather an odd way," went on Mary. "He really owns the +lands, or at least half of them, but he cannot prove his title +because the papers he needs were taken from him, and, he thinks, +by a man he trusted. He's been trying to get the documents back, +and every day we've been expecting to hear that he has them, but +mother says there has been no result."</p> + +<p>"No," said Mrs. Nestor. "My brother thought sure he had a trace +of the man he believes has the papers, or who had them, but he +lost track of him. If we could only find him—"</p> + +<p>At that moment a maid came into the room to announce that Tom +Swift was wanted at the telephone.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chaptervii" id="chaptervii">CHAPTER VII</a></h2> + +<h3>THE TRIAL TRIP</h3> + +<p>"This is my busy day!" announced the young inventor as he went +into the Nestor sitting room, where the telephone was installed.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it is some one else who wants you to come to their +rescue," suggested Mary.</p> + +<p>But it was not, as Tom related a little later when he had +finished his talk over the wire.</p> + +<p>"Just a business matter," he announced to Mary and her mother, +when he rejoined them. "A gentleman with whom I expect to make a +submarine trip is at the house, and wants to consult with me +about details. He is getting anxious to start. Mr. Damon is +there, too."</p> + +<p>"Blessing every thing he lays eyes on, I suppose," remarked +Mrs. Nestor, with a smile.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and some things he doesn't see," agreed Tom. "He is going +with us on this submarine trip."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Tom, are you going to undertake another of those dangerous +voyages?" asked Mary, in some alarm.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know that they are particularly dangerous," +replied Tom, with a smile. "But we expect to make a search for a +sunken treasure ship in a submarine. That's the vessel I'm +working on now," he added. "We're rebuilding the Advance, you +know, making her more up-to-date, and adding some new features, +including her name—M. N. 1."</p> + +<p>"I suppose Mr. Damon's friend is getting anxious to make a +start, particularly as he has already invested several thousand +dollars in the project," went on the young inventor. "He formed a +company to pay half the expenses of the search, and they will +share in the~ treasure—if we find it," Tom said. "I wish Mr. +Damon, who holds most of the shares the promoter let out of his +own hands, had not gone into it, but, since he has, I'm going to +do the best I can for him."</p> + +<p>"Then aren't you friendly with the other man?" asked Mary.</p> + +<p>"I don't especially care for him," the young inventor admitted. +"He isn't just my style—too fond of himself, and all that. Still +I may be misjudging him. However, I'm in the game now, and I'm +going to stick. I'll have to be traveling on," he said. "Mr. +Damon and his friend are at my house, and they've been +telephoning all over to find me. I guess this was one of the +first places they tried," he said with a smile, referring to the +fact that he spent considerable time at Mary's home.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm glad they found you, but I'm sorry you have to go," +Mary said with a smile.</p> + +<p>A little later Tom Swift, with Ned, for whom he called, was on +his way back home in his Air Scout, having said goodbye to Mary +and her mother and expressing the hope that Mr. Keith would soon +be over his business troubles.</p> + +<p>"Oil wells are queer, anyhow," mused Tom.</p> + +<p>Then Tom got to thinking about Dixwell Hardley: "I don't like +the man, and the more I see of him the less I like him. But I'm +in for it now, and I'll stick to the finish. I only wish I could +locate the treasure ship, give him his share, and get back to my +work. I'm going to try to turn out an airship that a man can use +as handily as he does a flivver now."</p> + +<p>Musing on the possibilities in this field, Tom, having left Ned +at the latter's home, soared down from aloft, and a little later, +having told Koku to look after the Air Scout, much to the delight +of the giant and the discomfiture of Rad, the young inventor was +closeted with Mr. Damon and Dixwell Hardley.</p> + +<p>"Bless my straw hat, Tom!" exclaimed the eccentric man, "but we +just couldn't wait any longer. How are you coming on, and when +can we start on this treasure-hunting trip? I declare it makes me +feel young again to think about it!"</p> + +<p>"Well, it won't be long now," was the answer. "The men are +working hard to get the submarine in shape, and I should say that +in another week, or two weeks at the most, we could set off!"</p> + +<p>"Good!" exclaimed Mr. Hardley. "I have received additional +information," he went on, "to the effect that the amount of gold +on board the Pandora was even greater than we at first thought."</p> + +<p>"That sounds encouraging," replied Tom. "It only remains to +find the sunken ship now. But what interests me greatly is +whether, after we have gotten this gold, supposing we are +successful, we shall be allowed to keep it."</p> + +<p>"Bless my bank book! why not?" asked Mr. Damon. "Isn't it +wealth abandoned at the bottom of the sea, and isn't finding +keeping?"</p> + +<p>"Not always," answered Tom. "There are certain rules and laws +about treasure, and it might happen that after we got this—if we +do—it could be taken away from us."</p> + +<p>"I think there will be no difficulty on this score," said Mr. +Hardley. "In the first place, two attempts were made to get this +wealth, and were unsuccessful. Then it was practically abandoned, +and I believe under the law the persons who now find it will be +entitled to keep it. Besides the persons who gathered it together +did so for an unlawful purpose—that of starting a revolution in +a friendly country—and they would not dare claim it for fear of +giving their secret away."</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps you are right," assented Tom. "We'll make a try +for it, anyhow."</p> + +<p>"You say the submarine is nearly ready?" asked Mr. Hardley.</p> + +<p>"She will be ready for a trial trip at the end of this week," +said Tom, "and be fitted up for the voyage within another seven +days, I hope. Then for the great adventure!" and he laughed, +though, truth to tell, he had no real liking for his task. The +more he saw of Mr. Hardley the less he liked him.</p> + +<p>"I shall begin getting my affairs in shape," said the latter, +as he gathered up some papers he had brought to attempt to prove +to Tom that the wealth of the Pandora was greater than had been +supposed. "I have many large interests," he went on, rather +pompously, "and they need looking after; especially if I +undertake anything so extra hazardous as a submarine trip."</p> + +<p>"Yes, there always is some danger," admitted Tom. "But then +there is danger walking along the street."</p> + +<p>"Oh, there's no danger with Tom Swift!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. +"I've been under the sea and above the clouds with him, and, +bless my rainbow! he always brought us safe home."</p> + +<p>"And I'll try to do the same this time," said the young +inventor.</p> + +<p>Busy days followed for Tom Swift and his friends. The force at +work on the submarine turned night into day to rush her +completion, and in due season she was set afloat in the dry dock +basin and formally rechristened the M. N. 1.</p> + +<p>Mary blushed as she gave the boat her new name, and there was a +little cheer from the group of workmen gathered at the dock. +There was no launching in the real sense of the word, since as +the Advance that ceremony had been gone through with for the +undersea craft.</p> + +<p>She had been greatly changed interiorly and outwardly. Her +skin, or plates, having been doubled and strengthened. For Tom +proposed to go to a much greater depth than ever before.</p> + +<p>In addition to using the submarine herself in a search for the +gold on the Pandora, Tom had installed on board some new kinds of +diving apparatus and also a diving bell. If one would not serve, +the other might, he reasoned.</p> + +<p>"Well, Tom," remarked his aged father the night before they +were to start on the trial trip, "I understand you have +practically rebuilt the Advance."</p> + +<p>"Yes; and I think she's a much better craft, too, Father."</p> + +<p>"Glad to hear that, Tom. Of course you kept the gyroscope +rudder feature?"</p> + +<p>"No, I didn't," replied Tom. "If I had left that installed it +would have meant carrying a smaller diving bell, and I think that +last will be more useful than the gyroscope. I put in a set of +double-acting depth rudders instead."</p> + +<p>Mr. Swift shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry for that, Tom," he remarked. "There's nothing like +the gyroscope rudder in a tight pinch—say when there's a storm. +And for holding the boat steady, if you have to make a sudden +turn under water, to avoid an obstruction you come upon +unexpectedly, a gyroscope can't be improved on. It holds you +steady and prevents your turning turtle."</p> + +<p>"I've put side fin-keels to correct that," Tom explained.</p> + +<p>But still his father was not satisfied.</p> + +<p>"I'd rather you had kept the gyroscope," he said, and the time +was to come when Tom Swift wished that himself.</p> + +<p>But it was too late to make the change now, and so, with more +than usual confidence in his own designing abilities, the next +day the young inventor and his friends went aboard the M. N. 1 +for the trial trip.</p> + +<p>"You don't easily get seasick, do you?" Tom asked Mr. Hardley, +as they descended the hatchway into the interior of the craft.</p> + +<p>"No, I'm considered a good sailor."</p> + +<p>"Well, you'll need to be," went on Tom, with a smile. "Not that +we are likely to strike any rough water now, though the reports +say a stiff breeze is blowing in the bay. But when we once start +for the West Indies you are likely to experience a new sensation. +I've known sailors who never had any qualms, even in terrible +storms, to get ill in a submarine when she went through only a +small blow. The motion is different from that on a surface boat."</p> + +<p>"I can imagine so," returned Mr. Hardley. "But I'll be thinking +of the millions in gold on the Pandora, and that will keep my +mind off being seasick."</p> + +<p>"Let us hope so," murmured Tom.</p> + +<p>He gave the word, they all descended, the hatch covers were +closed down, and the M. N. 1 was ready to start on a trial trip.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chapterviii" id="chapterviii">CHAPTER VIII</a></h2> + +<h3>THE MUD BANK</h3> + +<p>"What's that noise?" asked Mr. Hardley.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hardley, Tom Swift, Mr. Damon, Ned Newton, Koku, and one or +two navigating officers of the craft, were gathered in the +operating cabin of the M. N. 1.</p> + +<p>"That's water being pumped into the tanks," explained Tom. "We +are now going down. If you'll watch the depth gauge you can note +our progress."</p> + +<p>"Going down, are we?" remarked Mr. Hardley. "Well, it's +interesting to say the least," and he observed the gauge, which +showed them to be twenty feet under the surface.</p> + +<p>"Bless my hydrometer, but he's got nerve for a first trip in a +submarine! He's all right, isn't he?" whispered Mr. Damon to Tom.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm glad to see he isn't nervous," remarked Tom, honest +enough to give his visitor credit for what was due him. And +indeed many a person is nervous going down in a submarine for the +first time. "Still we can't go more than thirty feet down in this +water," went on Tom. "A better test will be when we get about +five hundred feet below the surface. That's a real test, though +as far as knowing it is concerned, a person can't tell ten feet +from ten hundred in a submarine under water, unless he watches +the gauge."</p> + +<p>"Well, I think you'll find Mr. Hardley all right," said Mr. +Damon, who seemed to have taken a strong liking to his new +friend.</p> + +<p>Certainly the latter showed no signs of nervousness as the +craft slowly settled to the proper depth. He asked numberless +questions, showing his interest in the operation of the M. N. 1, +but he showed not the least sign of fear. However, as Tom said, +that might come later.</p> + +<p>"We are going down now," Tom explained, as he pointed out to +Mr. Hardley the various controlling wheels and levers, "by +filling our ballast tanks with water. We can rise, when needful, +by forcing out this water by means of compressed air. When we are +on the ocean we can go down by using our diving rudders, and in +much quicker time than by filling our tanks."</p> + +<p>"How is that?" asked the seeker after the Pandora's gold.</p> + +<p>"Filling the tanks is slow work in itself," replied Tom, "and +they have to be filled very carefully and evenly, so we don't +stand on our stern or bow in going down. We want to sink on an +even keel, and sometimes this is hard to accomplish. But we are +doing it now," and he called attention to an indicator which told +how much the M. N. 1 might be listing to one side or to one end +or the other.</p> + +<p>"A submarine, as everyone knows, is essentially a water-tight +tank, shaped like a cigar, with a propeller on one end. It can +sink below the surface and move along under water. It sinks +because rudders force it down, and water taken into tanks in its +interior hold it to a certain depth. It can rise by ejecting this +extra water and by setting the rudders in the proper position.</p> + +<p>A submarine moves under water by means of electric motors, the +current of which is supplied by storage batteries. On the surface +when the hatches can be opened, oil or gasolene engines are used. +These engines cannot be used under water because they depend on a +supply of air, or oxygen, and when the submarine is tightly +sealed all the air possible is needed for her crew to breathe. +While cruising on the surface a submarine recharges her storage +batteries to give her motive power when she is submerged.</p> + +<p>There are many types of submarines, some comparatively simple +and small, and others large and complex. In some it is possible +for the crew to live many days without coming to the surface.</p> + +<p>Tom Swift's reconstructed craft compared favorably with the +best and largest ever made, though she was not of exceptional +size. She was very strong, however, to allow her to go to a great +depth, for the farther down one goes below the surface of the +sea, the greater the pressure until, at, say, six miles, the +greatest known depth of the ocean, the pressure is beyond belief. +And yet is possible that marine monsters may live in that +pressure which would flatten out a block of solid steel into a +sheet as thin as paper.</p> + +<p>"Well, we are as deep down as it is safe to go in the river," +announced Tom, as the gauge showed a distance below the surface +of a little less than twenty-nine feet. "Now we'll move into the +bay. How do you like it, Mr. Hardley?"</p> + +<p>"Very well, so far. But it isn't very exciting yet."</p> + +<p>"Bless my accident policy!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, "I hope you +aren't looking for excitement."</p> + +<p>"I'm used to it," was the answer. "The more there is the better +I like it."</p> + +<p>"Well, you may get your wish," said Tom.</p> + +<p>He turned a lever, and those on board the submarine became +conscious of a forward motion. She was no longer sinking.</p> + +<p>She trembled and vibrated as the powerful electric motors +turned her propellers, and Tom, having seen that all was running +smoothly in the main engine room, called Mr. Damon, Ned, and Mr. +Hardley to him.</p> + +<p>"We'll go into the forward pilot house and give +Mr. Hardley a view under water," he announced. "Of course, you'll +see nothing like what you'll view when we're in the ocean," added +the young inventor, "but it may interest you."</p> + +<p>The four were soon in the forward compartment of the craft. She +could be directed and steered from here when occasion arose, but +now Tom was letting his navigator direct the craft from the +controls in the main engine room. A conning tower, rising just +above the deck of the craft, gave the pilot the necessary view.</p> + +<p>"Here you are!" exclaimed Tom, as he switched out the lights in +the cabin. For a moment they were in darkness, and then, with a +click, steel plates, guarding heavy plate glass bull's-eyes, +moved back, and Mr. Hardley for the first time looked out on an +underwater scene. He saw the murky waters of river down which +they were proceeding to the bay moving past the glass windows. +Now and then a fish swam up, looking in, and, with a swirl of its +tail, shot away again, apparently frightened well-nigh to death.</p> + +<p>"Bless my shoe laces, Tom!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, "this isn't a +marker compared to some of the sights we've seen, is it?"</p> + +<p>"I can imagine not," said Mr. Hardley. "But it is interesting. +I shall be anticipating more wonderful sights."</p> + +<p>"And you'll get them!" exclaimed Ned. "Do you remember, Tom, +the time the big octopus tried to hold us back?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed," answered the young inventor. "That gave us a +scare for the time being."</p> + +<p>Steadily the M. N. 1 kept on her way under water. Her path was +illuminated to a considerable degree by a broad, diffused beam of +light from a powerful searchlight that was fixed just back of the +conning tower, giving the helmsman a certain degree of vision. +This light also served to illuminate the water, so that those in +the forward cabin could see what was going on around them.</p> + +<p>"There isn't much of interest in the river," said Tom. "No big +fish, or anything else of moment. Even in the bay we won't see +much to attract our attention. But I want to make sure everything +is working smoothly before we start for the West Indies."</p> + +<p>"That's right!" agreed Mr. Hardley. "We want to make a success +of this trip."</p> + +<p>He remained at the glass bull's-eyes, now and then exclaiming +as some shad or other fair-sized fish came into view. Suddenly, +however, his exclamation was sharper than usual.</p> + +<p>"Look!" he exclaimed. "There's part of a wreck!"</p> + +<p>Ned, Mr. Damon, and Tom looked out and saw, sweeping past them, +the ribs and worm-eaten timbers of some craft, lying on the +bottom of the river.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's the remains of an old brick scow," the young +inventor explained. "That's one of our water-marks, so to speak. +It is at the bend of the river. We turn now, and head for the +bay."</p> + +<p>As he spoke they all became aware of a sudden swerve in the +course of the submarine. The helmsman had, doubtless, noted the +"water-mark," as Tom termed it, and as an automobilist on land +might swing at the cross-roads, the steersman was changing the +course of his craft.</p> + +<p>"We'll go deeper," said Tom a moment later, as the wreck passed +out of view. "We can go about fifty feet down now. Yes, he's +sinking her," he added, as a gauge showed the craft to be +descending. "Nelson knows his business all right."</p> + +<p>"He is your captain?" asked Mr. Hardley.</p> + +<p>"One of the best, yes. He'll go with us on the search for the +Pandora."</p> + +<p>They talked of various matters, Tom relating to Mr. Hardley how +a tug had rammed the brick scow some years ago, and sunk it in +the river.</p> + +<p>The submarine was now about forty-eight feet below the surface, +and suddenly they all became aware that her speed had increased.</p> + +<p>"Guess he's going to give the motors a good try-out," observed +Tom. "I think I'll go back to the engine room. You may remain +here, if you like, and you'll probably see—"</p> + +<p>A cry from Mr. Damon interrupted him.</p> + +<p>"Bless my rubber boots, Tom! Look!" cried the eccentric man. +"We're going to ram a mud bank!"</p> + +<p>As he spoke they all became aware of a solid black mass looming +in front of the bull's-eye window. An instant later the submarine +came to a jarring stop, as if she had struck some soft, yielding +substance. There was a confused shouting throughout the craft, +the noise of machinery, a trembling and vibration, and then +ominous quiet.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chapterix" id="chapterix">CHAPTER IX</a></h2> + +<h3>READY TO START</h3> + +<p>Characteristic it was of Tom Swift to act calmly in times of +stress and danger, and he ran true to form now. Only for an +instant did he show any sign of perturbation. Then with calmness +and deliberation the young inventor quickly did a number of +things to the controls within his reach.</p> + +<p>First of all he signaled to the engine room that he was going +to take charge of the boat. This meant that the navigator in the +conning tower was to keep his hands off the various levers and +wheel-valves. It was possible to operate the M. N. 1 from three +positions, but Tom wanted no triplicate handling of his craft +now.</p> + +<p>Almost the instant Tom signaled that he would take charge back +came flashing the electrical signal from the conning tower that +his orders were understood. The next thing that those aboard the +craft became aware of was a tremor that seemed to run through the +whole under-sea ship. The quiet had changed to a subdued humming, +and the ominous lack of motion was succeeded by violent +vibration.</p> + +<p>"Backing her up, Tom?" asked Ned, in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"Trying to," was the answer. "But I'm afraid her nose has gone +in pretty deep. I've reversed the propellers."</p> + +<p>For perhaps a minute this vibration continued, showing that the +powerful electric motors were turning over the twin propellers at +the blunt stern of the craft. But she did not change her +position.</p> + +<p>With a touch of his hand, and still almost as cool as the +proverbial cucumber (though why they should be cool it is hard to +say), Tom stopped the motors. Once again the craft was quiet, but +now, instead of the occupants being able to see clearly from the +thick, glass windows in the forward cabin, the water showed muddy +and murky in the glare of the underwater searchlight.</p> + +<p>"Bless my postage stamps, Tom! what has happened?" exclaimed +Mr. Damon. "Has a giant squid attacked us, as one did some time +ago, and is he roiling up the water?"</p> + +<p>"No, it isn't a squid, Mr. Damon," replied the young inventor +easily; "though the water does look as if a squid had spilled a +lot of his ink in it. This is just the effect of mud stirred up +by our propellers. There may be more of it."</p> + +<p>Ned looked toward Mr. Hardley to see how he was taking it. The +seeker after gold apparently had good control of his nerves, or +else he was ignorant of what was going on. For he asked, casually +enough:</p> + +<p>"Have we stopped?"</p> + +<p>"We have," answered Tom. "I thought I'd give you a view of the +scenery."</p> + +<p>Perhaps he spoke sarcastically, but, if he did, Mr. Damon's +friend did not seem to be aware of it. Coolly enough he replied:</p> + +<p>"Well, if this is a fair sample of underwater scenery I prefer +something up above, though I appreciate that this may be +needful."</p> + +<p>"We'll soon be traveling along," announced Tom. "Koku," he +added to the giant, who had been calmly sitting during the +excitement, "go to the engine room and help with the big levers."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Master," was the answer. Koku had implicit faith in Tom.</p> + +<p>Waiting a moment for his faithful servant to reach the post +assigned to him, Tom again signaled to his helpers and then +quickly turned a wheel which produced startling results. For all +within the submarine suddenly slid forward across the cabin floor.</p> + +<p>"Bless my hammock hooks, Tom! are you standing her on her +head?" cried Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"That's exactly what I'm doing," was the answer. "I've started +to empty one of the after ballast tanks, and that, naturally, +raises the stern while the nose is held down."</p> + +<p>The submarine was indeed in a peculiar position. She was on a +slant in the water, her nose held fast in the soft mud bank, and +it was Tom's idea that by making the stern buoyant it might help +to pull her free.</p> + +<p>To this end he also gave what assistance the propellers were +capable of adding by starting the motors again, so that the craft +once more trembled and vibrated.</p> + +<p>But it all seemed to no purpose. Aside from the slanting +position, there was no change in the M. N. 1. Ned, looking out +into the murky water, which had cleared slightly, saw that the +craft was still held fast. And then, for the first time, Mr. +Hardley seemed to become aware that something serious was the +matter. Up to now he seemed to think that all that had occurred +was done for the purpose of testing the newly outfitted underseas +boat.</p> + +<p>"Is there anything wrong?" he asked sharply of Tom. "Why are we +in this position, and why don't we go on out to the open ocean +and make a test at considerable depth? We'll have to go down +deeper than this if we find the Pandora!"</p> + +<p>"I suppose so," agreed Tom. "But we have had an accident, +and—"</p> + +<p>"An accident!" interrupted the gold-seeker, and then Ned saw +him turn pale. "Do you mean to say this is not part of the test?"</p> + +<p>"We have run into a mud bank," said Tom. "The steersman must +have become confused, or else, since we last used the submarine, +there has been a shift of the mud banks in this river and one +exists where there was none before. At any rate, we ran our nose +deep into it, and here we are—stuck!"</p> + +<p>"Can't we get loose—go up to the surface?" +demanded Mr. Hardley.</p> + +<p>"I'm trying to bring that about," announced Tom calmly. "So far +her engines haven't been able to pull her loose."</p> + +<p>"But Great Scott, man, we can't stay here!" cried the now +excited adventurer. "We'll be drowned like rats in a trap! Let me +out! Isn't there some way? I'll be shot through a torpedo tube, +if necessary! I must get out! I can't stay here to be drowned! I +have too much at stake!"</p> + +<p>"Now wait a minute!" calmly advised Tom Swift. "You haven't any +more at stake than the rest of us. None of us wants to be +drowned, and there is only a remote possibility that we shall be. +I haven't played all my cards yet. We can live on this boat for a +week, if need be."</p> + +<p>"You mean under water as we are now?" asked Mr. Hardley.</p> + +<p>"Yes. I always keep the boat provisioned and with plenty of air +and water for a long stay, if need be," replied Tom. "And I did +not overlook the fact that we might have an accident on the trial +trip."</p> + +<p>"I don't see how you let an accident happen before we even got +started," complained the gold-seeker. "I should think your +steersman would have been more careful."</p> + +<p>"He is very careful," explained Tom. "But we have not used the +craft for some time, and, meanwhile, there have been changes in +the river, due, I suppose, to heavy tides. But we may get out of +the grip of the mud bank soon."</p> + +<p>"And if we don't, what then?" asked Mr. Hardley.</p> + +<p>"Then there is always the torpedo tube," said Tom calmly. "And +we are not very deep down. I think I can save you all."</p> + +<p>"I certainly hope so!" was the fretful comment of the +adventurer. "I have too much at stake to be drowned like a rat in +a trap! You must send me up first if it becomes necessary to use +the tube."</p> + +<p>Tom did not answer. But as he looked out of the observation +windows to see if possible the conformation of the mud bank, the +young inventor whispered to Ned one word. And that word was:</p> + +<p>"Yellow!"</p> + +<p>"You said it!" was Ned's whispered rejoinder.</p> + +<p>Tom Swift arrived at a sudden determination. Once again the +motors were stopped, and the boat gradually assumed an even keel.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to try, Tom?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to shove her farther into the mud bank," announced +the young inventor. "I think that's the only way to get her +loose."</p> + +<p>"Bless my apple pie, Tom!" cried Mr. Damon, "doesn't that seem +a foolish thing to do?"</p> + +<p>"It's the only thing to do, I believe," was the answer. "This +mud is of a peculiar sticky and holding kind. The sub's nose is +in it like a peg in a hole. What I propose to do now is to +enlarge the hole, and then our nose will come loose—I hope."</p> + +<p>"But you haven't any right to shove our nose further in!" cried +Mr. Hardley. "I won't allow it! I demand to be put on the +surface! I won't be drowned down here before I get the gold +that's coming to me—the gold and—"</p> + +<p>"Now look here!" suddenly cried Tom. "I'm in command of this +boat, and you'll do as I say. I'll gladly set you on the surface +if I can, and this is the only way it can be brought about—it's +the only way to save all of us. I'm going to enlarge the mud hole +so we can pull out. Please keep still!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Hardley stared at the young inventor a moment, seemed about +to say something, and then changed his mind.</p> + +<p>"Hold fast, everybody!" suddenly called Tom. The next moment +the M. N. 1 began behaving in a most peculiar manner.</p> + +<p>She appeared to be acting like a corkscrew. While her bow was +comparatively steady, her stern described a circle in the water +which was churned to mud by the two propellers, each being +revolved in a different direction.</p> + +<p>"I'm trying to make the hole bigger just as an amateur +carpenter makes a nail hole bigger, so he can pull out the nail, +by twisting it around," explained Tom. "The motion may be a bit +unpleasant, but it is needful."</p> + +<p>And indeed the motion was unpleasant. Tom, veteran airman and +sailor that he was, began to feel a trifle seasick, and Hr. +Hardley was in very evident distress.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, however, something happened. The M. N. 1 gave a lurch +to one side and then shot upward so quickly that Ned and Mr. +Damon lost their balance and slumped over on the bench that ran +around three sides of the room.</p> + +<p>"Are we free?" cried Mr. Hardley.</p> + +<p>"We have come loose from the mud bank," said Tom quietly. "By +boring into it the hole was enlarged sufficiently to enable us to +pull loose. There is no more danger!"</p> + +<p>His announcement was received in momentary silence, and then +Ned exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Hurray!"</p> + +<p>"Bless my accident policy!" voiced Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hardley appeared dazed, and then, as the submarine was +again moving through the water, seemingly none the worse for the +accident, the gold seeker approached Tom Swift.</p> + +<p>"I want to apologize, Mr. Swift, for my actions and words," +said Mr. Hardley frankly. "I admit that I lost my head. But it's +my first trip in a submarine."</p> + +<p>"I realize that," said Tom, equally frank, "and we'll forget +all about it. It was a strain on you—on all of us—though there +really was no very great danger. Now, are you game enough to +continue the trip?"</p> + +<p>"Try me!" exclaimed the adventurer. "You won't find me acting +so like a baby again."</p> + +<p>Nor did he, even when the craft reached the open ocean and went +down to a considerable depth, where, had any accident occurred, +there would have been grave danger to all. But Mr. Hardley seemed +to enjoy it.</p> + +<p>"Maybe I've misjudged him," Tom said to Ned, when they were +getting ready to go back.</p> + +<p>"It's possible," agreed the financial manager. This trial, +which so nearly ended disastrously, was only one of several. No +damage resulted from the collision with the river mud bank, and +that trip and the ones following gave Tom some new ideas in +interior construction which he followed out.</p> + +<p>About a month later all was ready for the trip to the West +Indies to look for the ill-fated Pandora. Tom's affairs were put +in shape, the submarine was laden with stores and provisions, the +new diving bell and other wonderful apparatus were put aboard, +and the crew and officers picked. Ned, Mr. Damon, Koku, and Tom +were, of course, together, and though Mr. Hardley was a stranger, +he seemed to become more friendly as the days passed.</p> + +<p>"Well, we start in the morning," said Tom to Ned one evening. +"I'm going over to tell Mary goodbye."</p> + +<p>"Give her my regards," requested Ned, and Tom said he would.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chapterx" id="chapterx">CHAPTER X</a></h2> + +<h3>STARTLING REVELATIONS</h3> + +<p>"Oh, Tom! And so you are really ready to start on that perilous +trip!" exclaimed Mary Nestor, a little later that same evening, +when Tom called at Mary's house in his speedy electric runabout, +a car in which he had once made a sensational ride.</p> + +<p>"Perilous? I don't know why you call it that!" exclaimed the +young inventor.</p> + +<p>"Didn't you tell me you were stuck in a mud bank away down +under the river and had hard work to get loose?" asked the young +lady, as she made a place for Tom on the sofa beside her.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that! Why, that wasn't anything!" he declared.</p> + +<p>"It would have been if you hadn't come up."</p> + +<p>"Ah, but we did come up, Mary."</p> + +<p>"Suppose you get in a similar position when you find the wreck +of the Pandora? You won't get up so easily, will you?"</p> + +<p>"No. But there aren't any mud banks in that part of the +Atlantic, so I can't be stuck in one," answered Tom.</p> + +<p>For some time Tom Swift and Mary talked of mutual friends and +happenings in which they were both interested. Mr. and Mrs. +Nestor stepped into the room for a minute, to wish the young +inventor good luck on his voyage, and when they had gone out, +promising to see Tom before he left for the night, the latter +remarked to Mary:</p> + +<p>"Did your uncle ever find the oil-well papers and get his +affairs straightened out?"</p> + +<p>"No," was the answer, "he never did. And we feel very sorry for +him. Just think, he had a fortune in his grasp, and now it is +slipping away."</p> + +<p>"Just what happened?" asked Tom, hoping there might be some way +in which he could aid Mary's uncle. Of course, Tom wanted to help +Mary, and this was one of the ways.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't exactly understand it all," she replied. "Father +says I'll never have a head for business. But as nearly as I can +tell, my uncle, Barton Keith, went into partnership with a man to +prospect for oil in Texas. My uncle has been in that business +before, and he was very successful. He supplied the working +knowledge about oil wells, I believe, and the other man put up +the money. My uncle was to have a half share in whatever oil +wells he located, and his partner supplied the cash for putting +down the pipe, or whatever is done."</p> + +<p>"I believe putting down a pipe is the proper term," said Tom.</p> + +<p>"Well, anyhow," went on Mary, "my uncle spent many weary months +prospecting in Texas. In fact, he made himself ill, being out in +all sorts of weather, looking after the drilling. At last they +struck oil, as I believe they call it. They drilled down until +they brought in what my uncle called a 'gusher,' and there was a +chance of him and his partner getting rich."</p> + +<p>"Why didn't he?" asked Tom. "A gusher, I believe, is one of the +best sort of oil wells. Why didn't your uncle clean up a fortune, +to use a slang term?"</p> + +<p>"Because he lost the papers showing that he had a right to half +the oil well," answered Mary. "At least my uncle thinks he lost +them, but he was so ill, directly after the well proved a +success, that he says he isn't sure what happened. At any rate, +his partner claims everything and my uncle can do nothing. He has +been hoping he might find the papers somewhere, or that something +would happen to prove the rights of his claim."</p> + +<p>"And nothing has?" inquired Tom.</p> + +<p>"Not yet. My father and mother have been trying to help him, +and dad engaged a lawyer, but he says nothing can be done unless +my uncle recovers the partnership and other papers. As it stands +now, it is my uncle's word against the word of his partner, and +both are equally good in a court of law. But if Uncle Barton +could find the documents everything would come out all right. He +could claim his half of the oil well then."</p> + +<p>"Is it still producing?" Tom questioned.</p> + +<p>"Yes, better than ever. But that's all the good it does my +uncle. He is ill, discouraged, and despondent. All his fortune +was eaten up in prospecting, and he depended on the gusher to +make him rich again. And now, because of a rascally partner, he +may be doomed to die a poor man. Of course we will always help +him, but you know what it is to be dependent on relatives."</p> + +<p>"I can imagine," conceded Tom. "It is tough luck! I wish I +could help, and perhaps I can after I get back from this trip."</p> + +<p>"The only way you or any one could help, would be to get back +my uncle's missing papers," said Mary. "And as he himself isn't +sure what became of them, it seem hopeless."</p> + +<p>"It does," Tom agreed. "But wait until I get back."</p> + +<p>"I wish you weren't going," sighed Mary.</p> + +<p>"So do I—more than a little," was Tom's remark. "I'm sorry I +ever let Mr. Damon persuade me to go into this deal with Dixwell +Hardley!"</p> + +<p>Mary sat bolt upright on the couch.</p> + +<p>"What name did you say?" she cried.</p> + +<p>"Dixwell Hardley," repeated Tom. "That's he name of the man who +claims to know where the wreck of the Pandora lies. He says she +has two millions or more in gold on board, and I'm to get half."</p> + +<p>"Well!" exclaimed Mary, with spirit, "if you don't get any +bigger share out of the wreck than my uncle got out of the oil +well, you won't be doing so very nicely, Tom."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" asked the young inventor. "What has the oil +well to do with recovering gold from the wreck?"</p> + +<p>"A good deal, I should say," answered the girl, "seeing that +the same man is mixed up in both."</p> + +<p>"What same man?"</p> + +<p>"Dixwell Hardley!"</p> + +<p>"Is he the man who cheated your uncle?" cried Tom.</p> + +<p>"I won't say that he cheated him," said Mary. "But Dixwell +Hardley is the man who furnished the money when my uncle went +into partnership with him to locate oil wells in Texas. The oil +wells were located, Mr. Hardley got his share, and my uncle got +nothing. And just because he can't prove there was a legal +partnership! I hope you won't have the same experience with Mr. +Hardley, Tom."</p> + +<p>"Whew!" whistled the young inventor. "This is news to me! I can +say one thing, though. Mr. Hardley doesn't take a dollar out of +that wreck unless I get one to match it. I think I hold the best +cards on this deal. But, Mary, are you sure it's the same man?"</p> + +<p>"Pretty sure. Wait, I'll call my father and make certain," she +answered, and as she went from the room to summon Mr. Nestor, Tom +felt a vague sense of uneasiness.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chapterxi" id="chapterxi">CHAPTER XI</a></h2> + +<h3>BARTON KEITH'S STORY</h3> + +<p>"What's this Mary tells me, Tom?" asked Mr. Nestor, as he +followed his daughter back into the room.</p> + +<p>"You mean about Dixwell Hardley?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Do you suppose he can be the same man who has so meanly +treated my brother-in-law?"</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't want to say, Mr. Nestor, until you describe to me +the Mr. Hardley you know. Then I can better tell. But from what +little I have seen of the man to whom I was introduced by my +friend Mr. Damon, I'd say, off hand, that he was capable of such +action."</p> + +<p>"Does Mr. Damon know this Mr. Hardley well?" asked Mrs. Nestor, +who accompanied her husband.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't say that he did," Tom replied. "I don't know just +how Mr. Damon met this chap—I think it was in a financial way, +though."</p> + +<p>"Well, if it's the same Mr. Hardley, I'll say he has some queer +financial ways," said Mr. Nestor. "Now let's see if we can make +the two jibe. Describe him, Tom."</p> + +<p>This the young inventor did, and when this description had been +compared with one given of the Mr. Hardley with whom Mr. Keith +once was associated, Mrs. Nestor said:</p> + +<p>"It surely is the same man! The Mr. Hardley who wants you to +get wealth from the bottom of the ocean, Tom, is the same fellow +who is keeping my brother out of the oil well property! I'm sure +of it!"</p> + +<p>"It does seem so," Tom agreed. "Dixwell Hardley is not a usual +name; but we must be careful In spite of its unusualness there +may be two very different men who have that name. I think the +only way to find out for certain is to see Mr. Keith. He'd know a +picture of the Dixwell Hardley who, he claims, cheated him, +wouldn't he?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed he would!" exclaimed Mrs. Nestor. "But where could we +get a picture of your Mr. Hardley? I call him that, though I +don't suppose you own him, Tom," and she smiled at her future +son-in-law.</p> + +<p>"No, I don't own him, and I don't want to," was Tom's answer. +"But I happen to have a picture of him. I made him furnish me +with proofs that he was on the Pandora at the time she foundered +in a gale, and among the documents he gave was his passport. It +has his picture on. I have it here."</p> + +<p>Tom drew the paper from his pocket. In one corner was pasted a +photograph of the man who had been introduced to Tom by Mr. +Damon.</p> + +<p>"It looks like the same man my brother described," said Mrs. +Nestor, "but of course I couldn't be sure."</p> + +<p>"There is only one way to be," Tom stated, "and that is to show +this picture to Mr. Keith. Where is he?"</p> + +<p>"Ill at his home in Bedford," answered Mrs. Nestor.</p> + +<p>"Then we'll go there and see him!" declared Tom.</p> + +<p>"But it's a hundred miles from here!" exclaimed Mary. "And you +are leaving on your submarine trip the first thing in the +morning, Tom!"</p> + +<p>"No, I'm not leaving until I settle this matter," declared the +young inventor. "I'm not going on an undersea voyage with a man +who may be a cheater. I want this matter settled. I'll postpone +this trip until I find out. A day's delay won't matter."</p> + +<p>"But it will take longer than that," said Mr. Nestor. "Bedford +is a small place, and there's only one train a day there. You'll +lose at least three days Tom, if you go there."</p> + +<p>"Not necessarily," was the quick answer. "I can go by airship, +and make the trip in a little over an hour. I can be back the +same day, perhaps not in time to start our submarine trip, as Mr. +Keith may be too ill to see me. But I won't lose much time in my +Air Scout.</p> + +<p>"Mary, will you go with me to see your uncle? We'll start the +first thing in the morning and I'll show him this picture. Will +you go?"</p> + +<p>"I will!" exclaimed the girl.</p> + +<p>"Good!" cried Tom. "Then I'll make preparations. I don't want +to form any rash judgment, so we'll make certain; but it wouldn't +surprise me a bit to have it turn out that the Dixwell Hardley +who wants me to help him recover the Pandora treasure is the same +one who is trying to cheat Mr. Keith."</p> + +<p>Early the next morning, when Tom arose in his own home, he met +Mr. Damon and Mr. Hardley, both of whom were guests at the Swift +house, pending the beginning of the undersea trip.</p> + +<p>"Well, Tom," began the eccentric man, "we have good weather for +the start. Bless my rubber boots! Not that it much matters, +though, what sort of weather we have when we're in the submarine. +But I always like to start in the sunshine."</p> + +<p>"So do I," agreed Mr. Hardley. "I suppose we'll get off early +this morning," he added.</p> + +<p>"We'll go to the dock in the auto, as usual, shall we not?" he +asked.</p> + +<p>"We aren't going to start this morning," said Tom, as he sat +down to breakfast.</p> + +<p>"Not going to start this morning!" exclaimed Mr. Hardley. "Why +—why—"</p> + +<p>"Bless my alarm clock!" voiced Mr. Damon, "has anything +happened, Tom? No accident to the M. N. 1 is there? You aren't +backing out now, at the last minute, are you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," was the easy answer. "We'll go, as arranged, but not +today. I had some unexpected news last night which necessitates +making a trip this morning. I expect to be back tonight, if all +goes well, and we'll start tomorrow morning instead of this. It's +a matter of important business."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know that we can find fault with Mr. Swift for +attending to business," said Mr. Hardley, with a short laugh. +"Business is what keeps the world moving. And we are a little +ahead of our schedule, as a matter of fact. May I ask where you +are going, Mr. Swift?"</p> + +<p>"To Bedford, to call on a Mr. Barton Keith," answered Tom +quickly, looking the adventurer straight in the eyes.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hardley was a good actor, or else he was a perfectly +innocent man, for he showed not the least sign of perturbation.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Bedford," he remarked. "Don't know that I ever heard of +the place."</p> + +<p>"Or Mr. Keith, either?" asked Tom, a bit sharply.</p> + +<p>"No, certainly not. Why should I?" he asked, boldly.</p> + +<p>"I didn't know," Tom replied. "I'm sorry to postpone our trip, +but it's necessary," he added. "I'll be back as soon as I can. +Everything is in readiness, so there will be no delay."</p> + +<p>Tom made a hurried meal, and then, giving Ned a hint of what +was in the wind, but cautioning him to say nothing about it, Tom +had the small Air Scout brought out, and in that he flew over to +Mary's home.</p> + +<p>He found her waiting for him, and, after being duly cautioned +by her mother to "be careful," though whether that was of any +value or not is possibly debatable, the small, speedy craft again +took the air.</p> + +<p>"You haven't heard anything from your uncle since last night, +have you?" asked Tom, as they flew along.</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Mary, "mother had a letter. He is worse, if +anything, and the doctor says the only thing that will save him +is the knowledge that the oil-well matter has turned out right +and that my uncle will get his share of the wealth."</p> + +<p>"That's too bad!" sympathized Tom. "I hope we can make it turn +out that way. If the two Dixwell Hardley chaps are the same it +may be that I can do something for your uncle. If not—we'll have +to wait and see."</p> + +<p>It was not difficult for Tom and Mary to talk while in the +aeroplane, as it was almost noiseless. In due time, Bedford was +reached without mishap, and Tom and Mary were soon at the home of +her uncle.</p> + +<p>An explanation to the housekeeper and an inspection on the part +of the nurse, brought forth permission for Tom to see the +patient. Though he had never known Mr. Keith he could see that +the man's health was indeed fast waning.</p> + +<p>Wasting little time in preliminaries, the object of the visit +was told and Tom showed the passport photograph of Dixwell +Hardley.</p> + +<p>"Is that the man who cheated you on the oil-well deal?" asked +the young inventor.</p> + +<p>"I won't admit he has yet cheated me, but he is trying to!" +exclaimed Mr. Keith, with something of a return of his former +spirit. "If I ever get off my back I'm going to fight him tooth +and nail. But that's the same scoundrel! He got me to locate the +wells, and when they panned out big—bigger than either of us +dreamed—he turned me out cold. He denied he had ever offered to +share with me, and said I was only working for monthly wages! +Why, sometimes I didn't get even that!"</p> + +<p>"How did he get the best of you?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"By making away with or hiding the papers by which I could +prove our partnership and my right to half a share in all the +wells," answered Mary's uncle. "Yes, that's the same man all +right. I'd know his face anywhere, and he has the same name."</p> + +<p>"He isn't going under a false name, that's sure," agreed Tom. +"He must be a bold chap."</p> + +<p>"He is—bold and unscrupulous! That's what makes him so +successful in his own way!" declared Mr. Keith. "And so you are +working with him! Well, I'm sorry for you."</p> + +<p>"I'm not exactly working with him," replied Tom. "As a matter +of fact, I'm sorry I ever agreed to look for this wreck."</p> + +<p>He told the details of the pending treasure-trove expedition, +and mentioned it as his belief that Mr. Damon had been mistaken +in his estimate of Mr. Hardley.</p> + +<p>"But, so far, Mr. Damon is quite taken with him," Tom went on. +"Now, Mr. Keith, if it isn't too much for you, I should like to +hear all the particulars."</p> + +<p>Thereupon Mary's uncle told his story. It was a long one. After +many hardships in life, which Mr. Keith related in some detail to +Tom. the oil-well prospector at last fell in with Dixwell +Hardley. Then followed the combination of interests.</p> + +<p>"We are actually partners," declared Mr. Keith. "I agreed to do +the work, and he agreed to furnish the money. I must say this for +him, that he kept to that end of the bargain. He supplied the +money to locate and drill the wells, but I got very little of it +personally. And I fulfilled my end of it. I discovered the wells. +Then, when the break came, and I wanted to be rid of the man—for +I caught him in some crooked transactions—he surprised me by +telling me to get out. I asked for my share of the oil-well +stock, and was told I was not entitled to any.</p> + +<p>"I put up a fight, naturally, and took the matter to court. But +when it came to trial Dixwell Hardley did not appear, and, though +I won a technical victory over him, I never got any money."</p> + +<p>"Where was he during the trial?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"At sea, I believe."</p> + +<p>"At sea?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, he was mixed up in some South American revolution, I +heard."</p> + +<p>"A South American revolution!" exclaimed Tom, and a great light +came to him.</p> + +<p>"Yes," went on Mary's uncle. "He was always that kind—mixing +up in anything he thought would produce money. He didn't make out +very well in the revolution business, so I understood. The +revolutionary party was beaten, or they lost their shipment of +arms, or something like that. At any rate, Dixwell Hardley had a +narrow escape with his life when a ship went down, and from then +on I've been trying to get him to restore my rights to me."</p> + +<p>"Did he have the papers that would prove you were entitled to a +half share in the oil wells?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"He certainly did!" said the sick man, who was obviously being +weakened by this long and exhausting talk. "At first I was not +sure of what happened, but now I am positive he stole the papers +and took them to sea with him. What happened to them after that I +don't know. But if I had Dixwell Hardley here—now—I—I'd—"</p> + +<p>Mr. Keith fell back in a faint on the bed, and, in great alarm, +Tom summoned the nurse.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chapterxii" id="chapterxii">CHAPTER XII</a></h2> + +<h3>IN DEEP WATERS</h3> + +<p>Mary Nestor, as well as Tom Swift, felt great alarm over the +condition of Mr. Keith. But the nurse, after reviving him, said:</p> + +<p>"He is in no special immediate danger. Talking about his +trouble overstrained him, but in the end it may do him good."</p> + +<p>"Then will he get well?" asked Mary.</p> + +<p>"He may," was the noncommittal answer. "His recovery would be +hastened, however, if his mind could be relieved. He keeps +worrying about the loss of his papers that proved his share in +the Texas oil wells. Until they can be given back to him he is +bound to suffer mentally, and of course that effects him +physically."</p> + +<p>"Oh, if we only could do something!" murmured Mary.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we can," said Tom in a low voice. "I've learned +something these last few hours. I don't want to promise too much, +but I think I begin to see how matters lie. There, he's rousing. +Speak to him, Mary."</p> + +<p>Mr. Keith opened his eyes, and smiled at his niece.</p> + +<p>"Did I dream it," he asked in a low voice, "or was there some +young man with you, Mary, my dear, to whom I was telling my +troubles about the oil-well papers?"</p> + +<p>"You didn't dream it, Uncle," Mary answered. "You were talking +to Tom Swift. Here he is," and Tom came forward.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I remember now," said Mr. Keith passing his hand +wearily over his eyes. "I thought, for a moment, that he had +recovered my papers for me. But that was a dream, I'm sure."</p> + +<p>"It may not be, Mr. Keith!" exclaimed Tom.</p> + +<p>"May not be? What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"I mean," replied the young inventor, "that I am much +interested in what you have told me. Now that I have proved that +the Dixwell Hardley who is to sail with me is the same one who +has treated you so shabbily, I think I understand the truth. I +don't want to make a promise that I may not be able to carry out, +but I am going to watch this man while he's on the submarine with +me."</p> + +<p>"Then you are going on with the voyage, Tom?" asked Mary.</p> + +<p>"I shall have to," he said. "I have entered into an agreement +with this man and I'm not going to break my contract, no matter +what he does. But I think I know what his game is. Mr. Keith, I'm +going to ask you to keep quiet about this matter until I come +back from the treasure search. I may then have some news for +you."</p> + +<p>"I hope you do, young man, I hope you do!" exclaimed the oil +contractor, with more energy than he had previously shown. "It +means a lot, at my age, to lose a small fortune. If I were well +and strong I'd tackle this Dixwell Hardley myself, and make him +give up the papers I'm sure he has hidden away. He has them, I'm +positive."</p> + +<p>"Well, he may not have them, but perhaps he knows where they +are," said Tom. "And I'm going to make it my business to watch +him and see if I can find out his secret. I won't let him know +I've heard from you. I'll apply the old saying of giving him +plenty of rope, and I'll watch what happens.</p> + +<p>"Now, Mr. Keith, take care of yourself. Mary and I must be +getting back. Try not to worry, and I'll do my best for you," Tom +concluded.</p> + +<p>Mary added a few words of comfort and encouragement to her +uncle, and then she and Tom took leave of him, flying back to +Shopton in the speedy Air Scout.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do, Tom?" asked Mary, as he left her at +her home, having told Mr. and Mrs. Nestor his part in the visit +to Barton Keith.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to start on the submarine voyage tomorrow," was the +answer of the young inventor.</p> + +<p>"Do you really believe there is a treasure ship?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I've satisfied myself that a ship named the Pandora sunk +about where Hardley says it did, and she had some treasure on +board. Whether it's just the kind he has told me it was I don't +know. But I'm going to find out."</p> + +<p>"Then you'll be saying goodbye for a long time," observed Mary, +rather wistfully.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it may not be for so very long," and Tom tried to speak +cheerfully. "I'll bring you back some souvenirs from the bottom +of the sea," he added with a laugh.</p> + +<p>"Bring me back—yourself!" said Mary in a low voice, and then +she hurried away.</p> + +<p>By appointment Tom met Mr. Damon and Mr. Hardley at the +submarine dock the next morning. Everything had been made ready +for the start, postponed from the day before. Mr. Hardley's +estimated share of the expenses had been deposited in a bank, to +be paid over later.</p> + +<p>"Well, are we really going this time, or are you going to delay +again?" asked the gold seeker, and his voice lacked a pleasant +tone.</p> + +<p>"Oh, were going this time!" exclaimed Tom. "And I hope +everything turns out the way I want it to," he added meaningly.</p> + +<p>"We'll find the treasure on the ship all right, if we can find +the ship," said Mr. Hardley. "That part is your job, Mr. Swift."</p> + +<p>"And I'll find her if she's where you say she went down," +answered Tom. "Now then, as soon as Ned comes we'll start."</p> + +<p>Ned Newton had been intrusted with some last-moment messages, +but he arrived a little later, and hurried on board the M. N. 1 +which lay at her dock, just afloat.</p> + +<p>"All aboard!" called Tom, when he saw his financial manager +coming down the pier. "We're ready to start now."</p> + +<p>"Bless my fountain pen!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, "but we ought to +do something, Tom—sing a song, make a speech or something, +oughtn't we</p> + +<p>"We'll sing a song of victory when we come back," replied Tom, +with a laugh. "Everything all right at home, Ned?" he asked, for +his chum had just come on from Shopton.</p> + +<p>"Yes; your father sent his regards, but he told me to make a +last appeal to you to install a gyro-scope rudder."</p> + +<p>"It's too late for that now," said Tom. "He attaches, I think, +too much importance to that device. I shan't need it with the +improvements I have made to the craft. Get aboard!"</p> + +<p>Ned climbed down the hatchway, which, however, was not closed, +as it was decided to navigate the craft on the surface until it +was necessary to submerge her because of too rough water, or when +the vicinity of the wreck was reached.</p> + +<p>"Though we will go down to the bottom when we get to the +Atlantic for the purpose of testing her in deep water," decided +Tom. "Most of the time we'll steam on the surface, for we'll save +our batteries that way, and it's more comfortable breathing +natural air."</p> + +<p>So, with part of her deck above the surface, the M. N. 1 began +her voyage, sent on her way by the cheers of the small force of +Tom's workmen at the submarine plant. The general public was not +admitted, for the object of the quest was kept secret from all +save those immediately interested.</p> + +<p>"Rad, him be plenty mad he not come," said Koku to Tom, as the +giant moved about the cabin, putting things to rights.</p> + +<p>"Well, don't start crowing over him until we get back," warned +the young inventor. "He may have the laugh on us."</p> + +<p>"Rad no laugh," declared Koku. "Rad him too mad dat I come on +trip."</p> + +<p>"A submarine voyage is no place for old, faithful Eradicate," +murmured Tom. "He's better off looking after my father."</p> + +<p>The first part of the trip was without incident of moment. No +mishap attended the voyage of the M. N. 1 down the river, out +into the bay, and so on to the great Atlantic.</p> + +<p>Fairly good time was made, as there was no particular object in +speeding, and on the second day after leaving the dock Tom gave +orders for the hatch to be closed, the deck cleared, and +everything made tight and fast.</p> + +<p>"What's up?" asked Ned, hearing the instructions passed around.</p> + +<p>"We're approaching deep water," was the answer. "I'm going to +submerge."</p> + +<p>A little later, by means of her diving rudders, aided also by +the tanks, the M. N. 1 began to sink. Down, down, down she went.</p> + +<p>"Now I'll be able to show you some pretty sights, Mr. Hardley," +said Tom, as he and his friends entered the forward compartment, +while the steel shutters were rolled back from the heavy glass +windows. "We'll be in deep waters presently."</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later the depth gauge showed that they were down +about three hundred feet, and that is pretty deep for a +submarine. But Tom's boat was capable of even greater depths than +that.</p> + +<p>At first there was nothing much to observe save the opal-tinted +water illuminated by the powerful lights of the submarine. Small, +and evidently frightened, fish darted to and fro, but there was +nothing especially to attract the attention of Tom and his +friends, who had made much more sensational trips than this under +water.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hardley, however, was fascinated, and kept close to the +observation windows.</p> + +<p>"Are there any wrecks around here?" he asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Possibly," was the answer. "Though they do not contain any +treasure, I imagine—brick schooners or cargo boats would be +about all."</p> + +<p>The submarine went deeper, plowing her way through the Atlantic +at a depth of more than three hundred and fifty feet, for Tom +wanted to subject her to a good test.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Mr. Hardley, who was now alone at the window on the +port side, uttered a cry of alarm.</p> + +<p>"Look! Look!" he fairly shouted. "We're surrounded by a school +of sharks! What monsters! Are we in danger?"</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chapterxiii" id="chapterxiii">CHAPTER XIII</a></h2> + +<h3>THE SEA MONSTER</h3> + +<p>Tom Swift, who had been making readings of the various gauges, +taking notes for future use, and otherwise busying himself about +the navigation of his reconstructed craft, turned quickly from +the instrument board at the cry from Mr. Hardley. The gold-seeker, +with a look of terror on his face, had recoiled from the +observation windows.</p> + +<p>"Bless my hat band!" cried Mr. Damon. "Look, Tom!"</p> + +<p>They all turned their attention to the glass, and through the +plates could be seen a school of giant fishes that seemed to be +swimming in front of the submarine, keeping pace with it as +though waiting for a chance to enter.</p> + +<p>"Are we well protected against sharks, Mr. Swift?" demanded the +adventurer. "Are these sea monsters likely to break, the glass +and get in at us?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed not!" laughed Tom. "There is absolutely no danger from +these fish—they aren't sharks, either."</p> + +<p>"Not sharks?" cried Mr. Hardley. "What are they, then?"</p> + +<p>"Horse mackerel," Tom answered. "At least that is the common +name for the big fish. But they are far from being sharks, and we +are in no danger from them."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" exclaimed Mr. Hardley, and he seemed a little ashamed of +the exhibition of fear he had manifested. "Well, they certainly +seem determined to follow us," he added.</p> + +<p>The big fish were, indeed, following the submarine, and it +required no exertion on their part to maintain their speed, since +below the surface the M. N. 1 could not move very fast, as indeed +no submarine can, due to the resistance of the water.</p> + +<p>"They do look as though they'd like to take a bite or two out +of us," observed Ned. "Are they dangerous, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Not as a rule," was the answer. "I don't doubt, though, but if +a lone swimmer got in a school of horse mackerel he'd be badly +bitten. In fact, some years ago, when there was a shark scare +along the New Jersey coast, some fishermen declared that it was +horse mackerel that were responsible for the death and injury of +several bathers. A number of horse mackerel were caught and +exhibited as sharks, but, as you can easily see, their mouths +lack the under-shot arrangement of the shark, and they are not +built at all as are the man-eaters."</p> + +<p>"Bless my toothbrush!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Still, between a +horse mackerel and a shark there isn't much choice!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Hardley, with a shudder, turned away from the glass +windows, and Tom glanced significantly at Ned. It was another +exhibition of the man's lack of nerve.</p> + +<p>"We'll have trouble with him before this voyage is over," +declared the young inventor to his chum, a little later.</p> + +<p>"What makes you think so?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Because he's yellow; that's why. I thought him that once +before, and then I revised my opinion. Now I'm back where I +started. You watch—we'll have trouble."</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess we can handle him," observed the financial +manager.</p> + +<p>"I'm going a little deeper," announced Tom, toward evening on +the first day of the voyage on the open ocean. "I want to see how +she stands the pressure at five hundred feet. I feel certain she +will, and even at a greater depth. But if there's anything wrong +we want to correct it before we get too far away from home. We're +going down again, deeper than before."</p> + +<p>A little later the submarine began the descent into the lower +ocean depths. From three hundred and fifty feet she went to four +hundred, and when the hand on the gauge showed four hundred and +fifty there was a tense moment. If anything went wrong now there +would be serious trouble.</p> + +<p>But Tom Swift and his men had done their work well. The M. N. 1 +stood the strain, and when the gauge showed four hundred and +ninety feet Mr. Damon gave a faint cheer.</p> + +<p>"Bless my apple dumpling, Tom!" he replied, "this is +wonderful."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we've been deeper than this," replied the young inventor, +"but under different conditions. I'm glad to see how well she is +standing it, though."</p> + +<p>Suddenly, as the needle pointer on the depth gauge showed five +hundred and two feet, there came a slight jar and vibration that +was felt throughout the craft.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" suddenly and nervously cried Mr. Hardley. "Have +we struck something?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, the bottom of the ocean," answered Tom quietly. "We are +now on the floor of the Atlantic, though several hundred miles, +and perhaps a thousand, from the treasure ship. We bumped the +bottom, that's all," and as he spoke he brought the submarine to +a stop by a signal to the engine room.</p> + +<p>And there, as calmly and easily as some of the masses of +seaweed growing on the ocean floor around her, rested the +M. N. 1. It was a test of her powers, and well had she stood the +test, though harder ones were in store for her.</p> + +<p>And inside the submarine Tom and his party were under scarcely +greater discomfort than they would have been on the surface. +True, they were confined to a restricted space, and the air they +breathed came from compression tanks, and not from the open sky. +The lights had to be kept aglow, of course, for it was pitch dark +at that depth. The sunlight cannot penetrate to more than a +hundred feet. But sunlight was not needed, for the craft carried +powerful electric lights that could illuminate the sea in the +immediate vicinity of the submarine.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to stay here long?" asked Mr. Hardley, when Tom +had spent some time making accurate readings of the various +instruments of the boat. "Of course, I realize that you are the +commander, but if we don't get to the treasure ship soon some one +else may loot her before we have a chance. She's been given up as +a hopeless task more than once, but the lure of the millions may +attract another gang."</p> + +<p>"I want to stay here until I make sure that nothing is leaking +and that everything is all right," answered the young inventor. +"This is a test I have not given her since the rebuilding. But I +think she is coming through it all right, and we can soon start +off again. Before we do, though, I want to try the new diving +outfit. Ned, are you game for it now? This is a little deeper +than you have gone out in for some time, but—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm game!" exclaimed the young financial manager. "Get out +the suit, Tom, and I'll put it on. I'll go for a stroll on the +bottom of the sea. Who knows? Perhaps I may pick up a pearl."</p> + +<p>"Pearls aren't found in these northern waters, any more than +are sharks," said Tom with a laugh. "However, I'll have the suits +made ready. I'll send Koku with you, and I'll stay in this time. +Mr. Damon, do you want to go out?"</p> + +<p>"Not this time, Tom," answered the eccentric man. "My heart +action isn't what it used to be. The doctor said I mustn't strain +it. At a depth not quite so great I may take a chance."</p> + +<p>"How about you, Mr. Hardley?" asked Tom. "Do you want to put on +one of my portable diving suits and walk around on the bottom of +the sea?"</p> + +<p>"I—I don't believe I've had enough experience," was the +hesitating answer. "I'll watch the others first."</p> + +<p>Tom felt that it would be this way, but he said nothing. He +ordered the diving suits made ready, a special size having been +built for the giant, and soon preparations were under way for the +two to step outside the craft.</p> + +<p>Those who have read of Tom Swift's submarine boat know how his +special diving outfit was operated. Instead of the diver being +supplied with the air through a hose connected with a pump on the +surface, there was attached to the suit a tank of compressed air, +which was supplied as needed through special reducing valves.</p> + +<p>The diving dress, too, was exceptionally strong, to withstand +the awful pressure of water at more than five hundred feet below +the surface. The usual rubber was supplemented by thin, +reinforced sheets of steel, and this feature, together with an +auxiliary air pressure, kept the wearer safe.</p> + +<p>Thus Ned and Koku could leave the submarine, walk about on the +floor of the ocean as they pleased, and return, unhampered by an +air hose or life line. In dangerous waters, infested by sea +monsters, weapons could be carried that were effective under +water. The diving suit was also provided with a powerful electric +light operated by a new form of storage current, compact and +lasting.</p> + +<p>"Well, I think we're all ready," announced Ned, as he and Koku +were helped into their suits and they waited for the glass-windowed +helmets to be put on. Once these were fastened in place +talk would have to be carried on with the outside world by means +of small telephones or by signals.</p> + +<p>"Give me axe!" exclaimed Koku, as some of the sailors were +about to put his helmet in place.</p> + +<p>"What do you want of an axe?" Tom asked.</p> + +<p>"Maybe so one them cow fish come along," explained the giant. +"Koku whack him with axe."</p> + +<p>"He means horse mackerel," laughed Ned. "Give him the axe, Tom. +I don't like the looks of those fish, either. I'll take a weapon +myself."</p> + +<p>Two keen axes were handed to the divers, their helmets were +screwed on, and they immediately began breathing the compressed +air carried in a tank on their shoulders.</p> + +<p>Slowly and laboriously they walked to the diving chamber. Their +progress would be easier in the water, which would buoy them up +in a measure. Now they were heavily weighted.</p> + +<p>To leave the submarine the divers had to enter a steel chamber +in the side of the craft. This craft contained double doors. Once +the divers were inside the door leading to the interior of the +submarine was hermetically closed. Water from outside was then +admitted until the pressure was equalized. Then the outer door +was opened and Ned and Koku could step forth.</p> + +<p>They entered the chamber, the door was closed tightly and then +Tom Swift turned the valve that admitted the sea water. With a +hiss the Atlantic began rushing in, and in a short time the outer +door would be opened.</p> + +<p>"If you'll come around to the observation windows you can see +them," said Tom, when a look at the indicators told him Ned and +Koku had stepped forth.</p> + +<p>To the front cabin he and the others betook themselves, and +when the interior lights were turned out and the exterior ones +turned on they waited for a sight of the two divers.</p> + +<p>"Bless my pickle bottle!" cried Mr. Damon, "there they are, +Tom."</p> + +<p>As he spoke there came into view, moving slowly, Ned and Koku. +Their portable lights were glowing, and then, in order to see +them better, Tom turned out the exterior searchlights. This made +the two forms, in their rather grotesque dress, stand out in bold +relief amid the swirling green waters of the Atlantic.</p> + +<p>Ned and the giant moved slowly, for it was impossible to +progress with any speed wader that terrific pressure. They looked +toward the submarine and waved their hands in greeting. They had +no special object on the ocean floor, except to try the new +diving dress, and it seemed to operate successfully. Ned made a +pretense of looking for treasure amid the sand and seaweed, and +once he caught and held up by its tail a queer turtle. Koku +stalked about behind Ned, looking to right and left, possibly for +a sight of some monster "cow fish."</p> + +<p>"They're coming back in, I think," remarked Tom, when he saw +Ned turn and start back for the side of the craft, where, +amidships, was located the diving chamber. "They're satisfied +with the test."</p> + +<p>Suddenly Koku was seen to glide to the side of Ned, and point +at something which none of the observers in the M. N. 1 could +see. The giant was evidently perturbed, and Ned, too, showed some +agitation.</p> + +<p>"Bless my rubber shoes! what's the matter?" cried Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," answered Tom. "Perhaps they have sighted a +wreck, or something like that."</p> + +<p>"Look! It's a sea monster!" cried Mr. Hardley. "I can see the +form of some great fish, or something. Look! It's coming right at +them!"</p> + +<p>As he spoke all in the observation chamber saw a great, black +form, as if of some monster, move close to the two divers.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chapterxiv" id="chapterxiv">CHAPTER XIV</a></h2> + +<h3>IN STRANGE PERIL</h3> + +<p>"What is it, Tom? What is it?" cried Mr. Damon, not stopping in +this moment of excitement to bless anything. "What is going to +attack Ned and Koku?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," answered the young inventor. "It's some big +fish evidently. I must get to the diving chamber!"</p> + +<p>He gave a quick glance through the observation windows. Ned and +the giant were moving as fast as they could toward the side of +the craft where they could enter. The black, shadowy form was +nearer now, but its nature could not be made out.</p> + +<p>Calling to his force of assistants, Tom stood ready to let his +chum and Koku out of the diving chamber as soon as the water +should have been pumped from it.</p> + +<p>A little later, as they all stood waiting in tense eagerness, +there came a signal that the two divers had entered the side +chamber. Quickly Tom turned the lever that closed the outer door.</p> + +<p>"They're safe!" he exclaimed, as he started the pumps to +working. But even as he spoke they felt a jar, and the submarine +rolled partly over as if she had collided with some object. Yet +this could not be, as she was stationary on the floor of the +ocean.</p> + +<p>"Bless my cake of soap, Tom!" cried Mr. Damon, "what in the +world is that?"</p> + +<p>"If it's an accident!" exclaimed Mr. Hardley, "I think it ought +to be prevented. There have been too many happenings on this trip +already. I thought you said your submarine was safe for +underwater trips!" he fairly snapped at Tom.</p> + +<p>The young inventor gave one look at the irate man who was +coming out in his true colors. But it was no time to rebuke him. +Too much yet remained to be done. Ned and Koku were still in the +chamber and protected from some unknown sea monster by only a +comparatively thin door. They must be inside to be perfectly +safe.</p> + +<p>Tom speeded up the pumps that were forcing the water from the +chamber so the inner door could be opened. Eagerly he and his men +watched the gauges to note when the last gallon should have been +forced out by the compressed air. Not until then would it be safe +to let Ned and Koku step into the interior of the craft.</p> + +<p>The submarine had not ceased rolling from the force of the blow +she had received when there came another, and this time on the +opposite side. Once more she rolled to a dangerous angle.</p> + +<p>"Bless my tea biscuit!" cried Mr. Damon, "what is it all about, +Tom Swift?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," was the low-voiced answer, "unless a pair of +monsters are attacking us on both sides alternately. But we'll +soon learn. There goes the last of the water!"</p> + +<p>The gauge showed that the diving chamber was empty. Quickly the +inner doors were opened, stud, with their suits still dripping +from their immersion in the salty sea, Ned and Koku stepped +forth. In another moment their helmets were loosed from the +bayonet catches, and they could speak.</p> + +<p>"What was it, Ned?" cried Tom.</p> + +<p>"Big fish!" answered Koku.</p> + +<p>"Two monster whales!" gasped Ned. "We barely got away from +them! They're ramming the sub, Tom!"</p> + +<p>As he spoke there came a blow on the port side, greater than +either of the two preceding ones. Those in the M. N. 1 staggered +about, and had to hold on to objects to preserve their footing.</p> + +<p>"Both at the same time!" cried Ned. "The two whales are coming +at us both at once!"</p> + +<p>This was evidently the case. Tom Swift quickly hurried to the +engine room.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do?" asked Mr. Hardley. "You ought to +do something! I'm not going to be killed down here by a whale. +You've got to do something, Swift! I've had enough of this!"</p> + +<p>Tom did not deign an answer, but hurried on. Mr. Damon followed +him, having seen that some of the sailors were helping Ned and +Koku out of the diving suits.</p> + +<p>"Are we in any danger, Tom?" asked the eccentric man.</p> + +<p>"Yes; but I think it is easily remedied," was the answer. +"We'll go up to the surface. I don't believe the whales will +follow us. Or, if they do, they can't do much damage when we are +in motion. It's because we are stationary and they are moving +that the blows seem so violent. Unless they collide head on with +us, in the opposite direction to ours, we ought to be able to get +clear of them. If they persist in following us—"</p> + +<p>He paused as he pulled over the lever that would send the M. N. +1 to the surface.</p> + +<p>"Well, what then?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Then we'll have to use some weapon, and I have several," +finished the young inventor.</p> + +<p>A few moments later the craft was in motion, not before, +however, she was struck another blow, but only a glancing one.</p> + +<p>"We're puzzling them!" cried Tom.</p> + +<p>Having done all that was possible for the time being, Tom +hurried to the observation chamber, followed by the ethers. There +Tom switched on the powerful lights. For a moment nothing was to +be seen but the swirling, green water. Then, suddenly, a great +shape came into view of the glass windows, followed by another.</p> + +<p>"Whales!" cried Tom Swift. "And the largest I've ever seen</p> + +<p>It was true. Two immense specimens of the cetacean species were +in front of the submarine, one on either bow, evidently much +puzzled over the glaring lights. They were bow-heads, and immense +creatures, and it would not take many blows from them to disable +even a stouter craft than was the submarine.</p> + +<p>But the motion of the undersea ship, the bright lights, and +possibly the feel of her steel skin was evidently not to the +liking of the sea monsters. One, indeed, came so close to the +glass that he seemed about to try to break it, but, to the relief +of all, he veered off, evidently not liking the look of what he +saw.</p> + +<p>Just once again, before the craft reached the surface, was +there another blow, this time at the stern. But it was a parting +tap, and none others followed.</p> + +<p>"They've gone!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, as the whales vanished +from the sight of those in the forward cabin.</p> + +<p>"Have you any adequate protection against these monsters of the +deep?" asked Mr. Hardley in a fault-finding voice. "I should +think you would have taken precautions, Swift!"</p> + +<p>He had dropped the formal "Mr." and seemed to treat Tom as an +inferior.</p> + +<p>"We have other protection than running away," said the young +inventor quietly. "There are guns we can use, and, if the whales +had been far enough away, I could have sent a small torpedo at +them. Close by it would be dangerous to use that, as it would +operate on us just as the depth bombs operated on the German +submarines. However, I fancy we have nothing more to fear."</p> + +<p>And Tom was right. When the surface was reached and the main +hatch opened, the sea was calm and there was no sight of the +whales. They evidently had had enough of their encounter with a +steel fish, larger even than themselves.</p> + +<p>"But they surely were monsters," said Ned, as he told of how he +and Koku had sighted the animals; for a whale is an animal, and +not a fish, though often mistakenly called one.</p> + +<p>"Koku was for attacking them with his axe," went on Ned, "but I +motioned to him to beat it. We wouldn't have stood a show against +such creatures. They were on us before we noticed their coming, +but I presume the big submarine attracted them away from us."</p> + +<p>"It might have been the lights you carried that drew them," +suggested Tom. "I am glad you came out of it so well."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hardley seemed to recover some of his former manners, once +the peril was passed, but his conduct had been a revelation to +Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Tom," said the eccentric man in private to the young inventor, +"I'm disgusted with that fellow. I don't see how I was ever +bamboozled into taking up his offer."</p> + +<p>"I don't, either," replied Tom frankly. "But we're in for it +now. We've agreed to do certain things, and I'll carry out my end +of the bargain. However, I won't put up with any of his nonsense. +He's got to obey orders on this ship! I know more than he thinks +I do!"</p> + +<p>The next two days the M. N. 1 progressed along on the surface, +and nothing of moment occurred. Then, as they neared southern +waters, and Tom desired to make some observations of the +character of the bottom, it was decided to submerge. Accordingly, +one day the order was given.</p> + +<p>Not until the gauge showed a hundred fathoms, or six hundred +feet, did the craft cease descending, and then she came to rest +on the bottom of the sea—a greater depth than she had yet +attained on this voyage.</p> + +<p>"How beautiful!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, when Tom turned on the +lights and they looked out of the forward cabin windows. "How +wonderful and beautiful!"</p> + +<p>Well might he say that, for they were resting on pure white +sand, and about them, growing on the bottom of this warm, +tropical sea were great corals, purple and white, of wondrous +shapes, waving plants like ferns and palms, and, amid it all, +swam fish of queer shapes and beautiful colors.</p> + +<p>"This is worth waiting for!" murmured Ned. "If only moving +pictures of this could be taken in colors, it would create a +sensation."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I may try that some day," said Tom with a smile. "But +just now I have something else to do. Ned, are you game for +another try in the diving dress? I want to see how it operates +with a new air tank I've fitted on. Want to try?"</p> + +<p>"Sure I'll go out," was the ready answer. "It's nicer walking +around on this white sand than on the black mud where we saw the +whales. You can see better, too."</p> + +<p>A little later he and one of the sailors were outside the +submarine, walking around in the diving dress, while Tom and the +others watched through the glass windows. The new air tank seemed +to be working well, for Ned, coming close to the window, signaled +that he was very comfortable.</p> + +<p>He walked around with the sailor, breaking off bits of odd- +shaped coral to bring back to Tom. Suddenly, as those inside the +craft looked out, they saw the sailor turn from Ned's side, and +with a warning hand, point to something evidently approaching. +The next instant a queer shape seemed to envelope Ned Newton, +coming out from behind a ledge of weed-draped coral. And a cry +went up from those in the submarine as Ned was seen to be +enveloped in long, waving arms.</p> + +<p>"An octopus!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my soul, Tom, an octopus +has Ned!"</p> + +<p>"No, it isn't that!" cried the young inventor hoarsely. "It's +some other monster. It has only five arms—an octopus has eight! +I've got to save Ned!"</p> + +<p>And he hurried toward the diving chamber, while the others, in +fascinated horror, looked at the diver who was in such strange +peril.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chapterxv" id="chapterxv">CHAPTER XV</a></h2> + +<h3>TOM TO THE RESCUE</h3> + +<p>Mr. Damon came to a pause in the compartment from which the +diving chamber gave access to the ocean outside. Tom, standing +before the sliding steel door, had summoned to him several of his +men and was rapidly giving them directions.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do, Tom Swift?" asked the eccentric man.</p> + +<p>"I'm going out there to save Ned!" was the quick answer. "He's +in the grip of some strange monster of the sea. What it is I +don't know, but I'm going to find out. Koku, you come with me!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Master, me come!" said the giant simply, as if Tom had +told him to go for a pail of water instead of risking his life.</p> + +<p>"Barnes, the electric gun!" cried the young inventor to one of +his helpers, while others were getting out the diving suits.</p> + +<p>"The electric gun!" exclaimed the man. "Do you mean the small +one?"</p> + +<p>"No, the largest. The improved one."</p> + +<p>"Right, sir! Here you are!"</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to say you are going out there, where that monster +is, and attack it with a gun?" asked Mr. Hardley.</p> + +<p>"That's what I'm going to do!" answered Tom, as he began to +put on the suit of steel and rubber, an example followed by Koku.</p> + +<p>"But you may be attacked by the monster! You may be killed! You +are risking your life!" cried the gold seeker.</p> + +<p>"I know it." Tom spoke simply. "Ned would do the same for me!"</p> + +<p>"But hold on!" cried Mr. Hardley. "If you are killed there will +be no one to navigate this boat to the place of the wreck! You +can't desert this way!"</p> + +<p>Tom gave the man one look of contempt. "You need have, no +fears," he said. "This submarine is under international maritime +laws. If I die, Captain Nelson, the next in command, takes +charge, and the original orders will be carried out. If it is +possible to get the gold for you it will be done. Now let me +alone. I've got work to do!"</p> + +<p>"Bless my apple cart, Tom, that's the way to talk!" exclaimed +Mr. Damon, and he, too, for the first time, seemed ready to break +with Hardley. "If I were a bit younger I'd go out with you myself +and help save Ned."</p> + +<p>"Koku and I can do it—if he's still alive!" murmured the young +inventor. "Lively now, boys! Is that gun ready?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and doubly charged," was the answer. "Good! I may need +it. Koku, take a gun also!"</p> + +<p>"Me take axe, Master," replied the giant.</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps that will be better," Tom agreed. "If two of us +get to shooting under the water we may hit one another. Quick, +now! The helmets. And, Nash, you work the big searchlight!"</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, sir!" answered the sailor.</p> + +<p>The helmets were now put on, and any further orders Tom had to +give must come through the telephone, and it was by that same +medium that he must listen to the talk of his friends. It was +possible for the divers to talk and listen to one another while +in the water by means of these peculiarly constructed telephones.</p> + +<p>"All ready, Koku?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"All ready, Master," answered the giant, as he grasped his keen +axe.</p> + +<p>The inner door of the diving chamber was now opened, and, the +water having been pumped out of the chamber since Ned and the +sailor had emerged, it was ready for Tom and Koku. They entered, +the door was closed, and presently they felt the pressure of +water all about them, the sea being admitted through valves in +the outer door.</p> + +<p>While this was going on Mr. Damon, the gold-seeker, and some of +the crew and officers went into the forward chamber to observe +the undersea fight against the monster that had attacked Ned.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the waters glowed with a greatly increased light, and +in this illumination it was seen that the monster, whatever it +was, had almost completely enveloped Tom's chum with its five +arms.</p> + +<p>"What makes it possible to see better?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"I've turned on the big searchlight," was the answer. "Mr. +Swift had it installed at the last moment. It's the same kind he +invented and gave to the government, but he retained the right to +use it himself."</p> + +<p>"It's a good thing he did!" exclaimed the eccentric man. "Now +he can see what he's doing! Poor Ned! I'm afraid he's done for!"</p> + +<p>"Look!" exclaimed one of the crew. "Norton, the sailor who went +out with Mr. Newton, is trying to kill the monster with his +spear!"</p> + +<p>This was so. Ned's companion, armed with a lone pole to which +he had lashed a knife, was stabbing and jabbing at the black form +which almost completely hid Ned from sight. But the efforts of +the sailor seemed to produce little effect.</p> + +<p>"What in the world can it be?" asked Mr. Damon. "Tom says it +isn't an octopus, and it can't be, unless it has lost three of +its arms. But what sort of monster is it?"</p> + +<p>No one answered him. The powerful searchlight continued to +glow, and in the gleam Ned could be seen trying to break away +from the grip of the Atlantic beast. But his efforts were +unavailing. It was as if he was enveloped in a sort of sack, made +in segments, so that they opened and closed over his head. About +all that could be seen of him was his feet, encased in the heavy +lead-laden boots. The form of the other sailor, who had gone out +of the submarine with him, could be seen moving here and there, +stabbing at the huge creature.</p> + +<p>"Here comes Tom!" suddenly exclaimed Mr. Damon, and the young +inventor, followed by the giant Koku, came into view. They had +emerged from the diving chamber, walked around the submarine as +it rested on the ocean floor, and were now advancing to the +rescue. Tom carried his electric rifle, and Koku an axe.</p> + +<p>So desperately was Norton engaged in trying to kill the sea +beast that had attacked Ned, that for the moment he was unaware +of the approach of Tom and Koku. Then, as a swirl of the water +apprised him of this, he turned and, seeing them, hastened toward +them.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" Tom asked through the telephone, this information +being given to the watchers in the submarine later, as all they +could gather then was by what they saw. "What sort of monster is +it?"</p> + +<p>"A giant starfish!" answered Norton, speaking into his +mouthpiece and the water serving as a transmitting medium instead +of wires. "I never knew they grew so big! This one has its five +arms all around Mr. Newton!"</p> + +<p>"A starfish!" murmured Tom. This accounted for it, and, as he +looked at the monster from closer quarters, he saw that Norton +had spoken the truth.</p> + +<p>Small starfish, or even large ones, two feet or more in +diameter, may be seen at the seashore almost any time. Nearly +always the specimens cast up on the beach are in extended form, +either limp, or dead and dried. In almost every instance they +are spread out just as their name indicates, in the conventional +form of a star.</p> + +<p>But a starfish alive, and at its business of eating oysters or +other shell animals in the sea, is not at all this shape. +Instead, it assumes the form of a sack, spreading its five +radiating arms around the object of its meal. It then proceeds +to suck the oyster out of its shell, and so powerful a suction +organ has the starfish that he can pull an oyster through its +shell, by forcing the bivalve to open.</p> + +<p>And it was a gigantic starfish, a hundred times as large as any +Tom had ever seen, that had Ned in its grip. The creature had +doubtless taken the diver for a new kind of oyster, and was +trying to open it. An octopus has suckers on the inner sides of +its eight arms. A starfish has little feelers, or "fingers," +arranged parallel rows on the inner side of its arms, thousands of +little feelers, and these exert a sort of sucking action.</p> + +<p>The gigantic starfish had attacked Ned from above, settling +down on him so that the head of the diver was at the middle of +the creature's body, the five arms, dropping over Ned in a sort +of living canopy. And the arms held tightly.</p> + +<p>"Come on, Koku, and you, too, Norton!" called Tom through his +headpiece telephone. "We'll all attack it at once. I'll fire, and +then you begin to hack it. The electric charge ought to stun it, +if it doesn't kill the beast!"</p> + +<p>Tom's new electric gun, unlike one kind he had first invented, +did not fire an electrically charged bullet. Instead it sent a +powerful charge of electricity, like a flash of lightning, in a +straight line toward the object aimed at. And the current was +powerful enough to kill an elephant.</p> + +<p>Bracing his feet on the white sand, which gleamed and sparkled +in the glare of the searchlight, Tom aimed at the gigantic +starfish which had enveloped Ned. Standing on either side of him, +ready to rush in and attack with axe and lance, were Koku and +Norton.</p> + +<p>For an instant Tom hesitated. He was wondering whether the +powerful electric charge might not penetrate the body of the +starfish and kill his chum.</p> + +<p>"But the rubber suit ought to insulate and protect him," mused +the young inventor. "Here goes!"</p> + +<p>Taking quick aim, Tom pulled the switch, and the deadly charge +shot out of the rifle toward the sea monster.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chapterxvi" id="chapterxvi">CHAPTER XVI</a></h2> + +<h3>GASPING FOR AIR</h3> + +<p>For an instant after the electrical charge had been fired +nothing seem to happen. The giant starfish still enveloped Ned +Newton in its grip, while Tom and his two companions stood +tensely waiting and those in the submarine looked anxiously out +through the thick glass windows.</p> + +<p>Then, as the powerful current made itself felt, those watching +saw one of the arms slowly loosen its grip. Another floated +upward, as a strand of rope idly drifts in the current. Tom saw +this, and called through his telephone:</p> + +<p>"He's feeling it! Go to him, boys! Koku, you with the axe!"</p> + +<p>They needed no second urging.</p> + +<p>Springing toward the monster, Koku with upraised axe and Norton +with the lance, they attacked the starfish. Hacking and stabbing, +they completed the work begun by Tom's electric gun. With one +powerful stroke, even hampered as he was by the heavy medium in +which he operated, Koku lopped off one of the legs. Norton thrust +his lance deep into the body of the monster, but this was hardly +needed, for the starfish was now dead, and gradually the +remaining arms relaxed their hold.</p> + +<p>Pushing with their weapons, the giant and the sailor now freed +Ned from the bulk of the creature, which floated away. It was +almost immediately attacked by a school of fish that seemed to +have been waiting for just this chance. Ned Newton was freed, but +for a moment he staggered about on the floor of the sea, hardly +able to stand.</p> + +<p>"Are you all right, Ned? Did he pierce your suit?" asked Tom, +anxiously through the telephone.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm all right," came back the reassuring answer. "I'm a +bit cramped from the way he held me, but that's all. Guess he +found this suit of rubber and steel too much for his digestion."</p> + +<p>Slowly, for Ned was indeed a bit stiff and cramped, they made +their way back to the submarine, passing through a vast horde of +small fishes which had been attracted by the dismemberment of the +monster that had been killed.</p> + +<p>"There'll be sharks along soon," said Tom to Ned through the +telephone. "They're not going to miss such a gathering of food as +these small fry present. And sharks will present a different +emergency from starfish."</p> + +<p>Tom spoke truly, for a little later, when they were all once +more safely within the submarine, looking through the windows, +they saw a school of hungry sharks feeding on the millions of +small fish that gathered to eat the creature that had attacked +Ned.</p> + +<p>"What did you think was happening to you out there?" asked +Tom, when the diving suits had been put away.</p> + +<p>"I didn't know what to think," was the answer. "I was +prospecting around, and I leaned over to pick up a particularly +beautiful bit of coral. All at once I felt something over me, as +a cloud sometimes hides the sun. I looked up, saw a big black +shape settling down, and then I felt my arms pinned to my sides. +At first I thought it was an octopus, but in a moment I realized +what it was. Though I never thought before that starfish grew so +large."</p> + +<p>"Nor I," added Tom. "Well, you've had an experience, to say the +least."</p> + +<p>They remained a little longer in the vicinity, Tom and his +officers making observations they thought would be useful to them +later, and then the submarine went up to the surface.</p> + +<p>They cruised in the open the rest of that day, recharging the +storage batteries and getting ready for the search which, Tom +calculated, would take them some time. As he had explained, it +would not be easy to locate the Pandora in the fathomless depths +of the sea.</p> + +<p>Ned and Mr. Damon did some fishing while they were on the +surface, and, as their luck was good, there was a welcome change +from the usual food of the M. N. 1. Though, as Tom had installed +a refrigerating plant, fresh meat could be kept for some time, +and this, in addition to the tinned and preserved foods, gave +them an ample larder.</p> + +<p>"When are we going to begin the real search for the gold?" +asked Mr. Hardley that evening.</p> + +<p>"I should say in another day or two," Tom answered, after he +had consulted the charts and made calculations of their progress +since leaving their dock. "We shall then be in the vicinity of +the place where you say the Pandora went down, and, if you are +sure of your location, we ought to be able to come approximately +near to the location of the gold wreck."</p> + +<p>"Of course I am sure of my figures," declared Mr. Hardley. "I +had them directly from the first mate, who gave them to the +captain."</p> + +<p>"Well, it remains to be seen," replied Tom Swift. "We'll know +in a few days."</p> + +<p>"And I hope there will be no more taking chances," went on the +gold-seeker. "I don't see any sense in you people going out in +diving suits to fight starfish. We need those suits to recover +the gold with, and it's foolish to take needless risks."</p> + +<p>His tone and manner were dictatorial, but Tom said nothing. +Only when he and Mr. Damon were alone a little later the +eccentric man said:</p> + +<p>"Tom will you ever forgive me for introducing you to such a +pest?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, you didn't know what he was," said Tom good-naturedly. +"You're as badly taken in as I am. Once we get the +gold and give him his share, he can get off my boat. I'll have +nothing more to do with him!"</p> + +<p>Not wishing to navigate in the darkness, for fear of not being +able to keep an accurate record of the course and the distance +made Tom submerged the craft when night came and let her come to +rest on the bottom of the sea. He calculated that two days later +they would be in the vicinity of the Pandora.</p> + +<p>The night passed without incident, situated, as they were, on +the sand about three hundred feet below the surface; and after +breakfast Tom announced that they would go up and head directly +for the place where the Pandora had foundered.</p> + +<p>The ballast tanks were emptied, the rising rudder set, and the +M. N. 1 began to ascend. She was still several fathoms from the +surface when all on board became aware of a violent pitching and +tossing motion.</p> + +<p>"Bless my postage stamp, Tom!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, "what's the +matter now?"</p> + +<p>"Has anything gone wrong?" demanded Mr. Hardley.</p> + +<p>"Nothing, except that we are coming up into a storm," answered +the young inventor. "The wind is blowing hard up above and the +waves are high. The swell makes itself felt even down here."</p> + +<p>Tom's explanation of the cause of the pitching and rolling of +the submarine proved correct. When they reached the surface and +an observation was taken from the conning tower, it was seen that +a terrific storm was raging. It was out of the question to open +the hatches, or the M. N. 1 would have been swamped. The waves +were high, it was raining hard and the wind blowing a hurricane.</p> + +<p>"Well, here's where we demonstrate the advantage of traveling +in a submarine," announced Tom, when it was seen that journeying +on the surface was out of the question. "The disturbance does not +go far below the top. We'll submerge and be in quiet waters."</p> + +<p>He gave the orders, and soon the craft was sinking again. The +deeper she went the more untroubled the sea became, until, when +half way to the bottom, there was no vestige of the storm.</p> + +<p>"Are we going to lie here on the bottom all day, or make some +progress toward our destination?" asked the gold-seeker, when Tom +came into the main cabin after a visit to the engine room. "It +seems to me," went on Mr. Hardley, "that we've wasted enough +time! I'd like to get to the wreck, and begin taking out the +gold."</p> + +<p>"That is my plan," said Tom quietly. "We will proceed +presently—just as soon as navigating calculations can be made +and checked up. If we travel under water we want to go in the +right direction."</p> + +<p>His manner toward the gold-seeker was cool and distant. It was +easy to see that relations were strained. But Tom would fulfill +his part of the contract.</p> + +<p>A little later, after having floated quietly for half an hour +or so, the craft was put in motion, traveling under water by +means of her electric motors. All that day she surged on through +the salty sea, no more disturbed by the storm above than was some +mollusk on the sandy bottom.</p> + +<p>It was toward evening, as they could tell by the clocks and not +by any change in daylight or darkness, that, as the submarine +traveled on, there came a sudden violent concussion.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" cried Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"We've struck something!" replied Tom, who was with the others +in the cabin, the navigation of the craft having been entrusted +to one of the officers. "Keep cool, there's no danger!"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we have struck the wreck!" exclaimed Mr. Hardley.</p> + +<p>"We aren't near her," answered the young inventor. "But it may +be some other half-submerged derelict. I'll go to see, and—"</p> + +<p>Tom's words were choked off by a sudden swirl of the craft. She +seemed about to turn completely over, and then, twisted to an +uncomfortable angle, so that those within her slid to the side +walls of the cabin, the M. N. 1 came to an abrupt stop. At the +same time she seemed to vibrate and tremble as if in terror of +some unknown fate.</p> + +<p>"Something has gone wrong!" exclaimed Tom, and he hurried to +the engine room, walking, as best he could with the craft at that +grotesque angle. The others followed him.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, Earle?" asked Tom of his chief assistant.</p> + +<p>"One of the rudders has broken, sir," was the answer. "It's +thrown us off our even keel. I'll start the gyroscope, and that +ought to stabilize us."</p> + +<p>"The gyroscope!" cried Tom. "I didn't bring it. I didn't think +we'd need it!"</p> + +<p>For a moment Earle looked at his commander. Then he said:</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps we can make a shift if we can repair the broken +rudder. We must have struck a powerful cross current, or maybe a +whirlpool, that tore the main rudder loose. We've rammed a sand +bank, or stuck her nose into the bottom in some shallow place, +I'm afraid. We can't go ahead or back up."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean we're stuck, as we were in the mud bank?" asked +Mr. Hardley.</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Tom, and Earle nodded to confirm that version +of it.</p> + +<p>"But we'll get out!" declared Tom. "This is only a slight +accident. It doesn't amount to anything, though I'm sorry now I +didn't take my father's advice and bring the gyroscope rudder +along. It would have acted automatically to have prevented this. +Now, Mr. Earle, we'll see what's to be done."</p> + +<p>All night long they worked, but when morning came, as told by +the clocks, they were still in jeopardy.</p> + +<p>And then a new peril confronted them!</p> + +<p>Earle, coming from the crew's quarters, spoke to Tom quietly in +the main cabin.</p> + +<p>"We'll have to turn on one of the auxiliary air tanks," he +said. "We've consumed more than the usual amount on account of +the men working so hard, and we used one of the compressed air +motors to aid the electrics. We'll have to open up the reserve +tank."</p> + +<p>"Very well, do so," ordered Tom.</p> + +<p>But a grim look came to his face when Earle, returning a little +later, reported with blanched cheeks:</p> + +<p>"The extra tank hasn't an atom of air in it, sir!"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" asked Tom, in fear and alarm.</p> + +<p>"I mean that the valve has been opened in some way—broken +perhaps by accident—and all the air we have is what's in the +submarine now. Not an atom in reserve, sir!"</p> + +<p>"Whew!" whistled Tom, and then he stood up and began breathing +quickly.</p> + +<p>Already the atmosphere was beginning to be tainted, as it +always becomes in a closed place when no fresh oxygen can enter. +Without more fresh air the lives of all in the submarine were in +imminent peril. And even as Tom listened to the report of his +officer, he and the others began gasping for breath.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chapterxvii" id="chapterxvii">CHAPTER XVII</a></h2> + +<h3>WHERE IS IT?</h3> + +<p>"Down on your faces!" called Tom to those with him in the +cabin. "Lie down, every one! The freshest air is near the floor; +the bad air rises, being lighter with carbonic acid. Lie down!"</p> + +<p>All obeyed, Tom following the advice he himself gave. It was a +little easier to breathe, lying on the tilted cabin floor, but +how long could this be kept up? That was a question each one +asked himself.</p> + +<p>"Is every bit of our reserve air used?" asked Tom, speaking to +Earle.</p> + +<p>"As far as I can learn, yes, sir. If I had known that the +auxiliary tank was empty I wouldn't have ordered the compressed +air motor used. But I didn't know."</p> + +<p>"No one is to blame," said Tom in a low voice. "It is one of +the accidents that could not be foreseen. If there is any blame +it attaches to me for not installing the gyroscope rudder. If we +had had that when we were caught in the cross current, or the +whirlpool swirl, our equilibrium would have been automatically +maintained. As it is—"</p> + +<p>He did not finish, but they all knew what he meant.</p> + +<p>"Bless my soda fountain, Tom!" murmured Mr. Damon, "but isn't +there any way of getting fresh air?"</p> + +<p>"None without rising to the top," Tom answered. "We'll have to +try that. Come with me to the engine room, Mr. Earle. It may be +possible we can pull her loose."</p> + +<p>They started to crawl on their hands and knees, to take +advantage of the purer air at the floor level. The situation of +the M. N. 1 was exactly the same as it had been when she ran into +the mud bank in the river, with the exception that now she was in +graver danger, for the supply of air for breathing was almost +exhausted.</p> + +<p>Reaching the engine room, where he found the crew lying down to +take advantage of the better air near the floor, Tom made a hasty +examination of the apparatus. There was still plenty of power +left in the storage batteries, but, so far, the motors they +operated had not been able to pull the craft loose from where her +nose was stuck fast.</p> + +<p>"Are the tanks completely emptied?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"As nearly so as we could manage with the pumps not acting to +their full capacity," answered Earle. "If we could turn the craft +on a more level keel we might empty them further, and then her +natural buoyancy would send her up."</p> + +<p>"Then that's the thing to try to do!" exclaimed Tom, his head +beginning to feel the heaviness due to the impure air. "We'll move +every stationary object over to the port side, and we'll all +stand there, or lie there, ourselves. That may heel her over, and +help loosen the grip of the sand."</p> + +<p>"It's worth trying," said Earle. "Get ready, men!" he called to +the crew.</p> + +<p>Tom crawled back to the main cabin and told Mr. Damon and the +others what was to be attempted.</p> + +<p>"Koku, you come and help move things," requested Tom.</p> + +<p>"Me move anything!" boasted the giant, who, because of his +great strength and reserve power did not seem as greatly +affected as were the others.</p> + +<p>Going back to the engine room with Koku, Tom assisted, as well +as he could, in the shifting of pieces of apparatus, stores and +other things that were movable. They all worked at a great +disadvantage except Koku, and he did not seem to feel the lack of +vitalizing air.</p> + +<p>One thing after another was shifted, and still the M. N. 1 +maintained the dangerous angle.</p> + +<p>"It isn't going to work!" gasped Tom, as he noticed the +indicator which told to what angle the craft was still off an +even keel. "We'll have to try something else."</p> + +<p>"Is there anything to try?" asked Earle, in a faint voice. He +was on the point of fainting for lack of air.</p> + +<p>Tom looked desperately around. There was one piece of heavy +machinery that might be moved to the other side of the engine +room. It was bolted to the floor, but its added weight, with that +of the crew and passengers, together with what had already been +shifted, might turn the trick.</p> + +<p>"Let's try to move that!" said Tom faintly, pointing to it.</p> + +<p>"It will take an hour to unbolt it," said one of the men.</p> + +<p>"Koku!" gasped Tom, pointing to the heavy apparatus. "See if— +see if you—"</p> + +<p>Tom's breath failed him, and he sank down in a heap. But he had +managed to make the giant understand what was wanted.</p> + +<p>"Koku do!" murmured the big man. Striding to the piece of +machinery, the legs of which were bolted to the floor, Koku got +his arms under it. Bending over, and arching his back, so as to +take full advantage of his enormous muscles, the giant strained +upward.</p> + +<p>There was a cracking of bone and sinew, a rasping sound, but +the machinery did not leave the floor.</p> + +<p>"Him must come!" gasped the giant. "One more go!"</p> + +<p>He took a hold lower down. Tom's eyes were dim now, and he +could not see well. Some of the men were unconscious.</p> + +<p>Then, suddenly, there was a loud, breaking sound, and something +tinkled on the steel floor of the submarine engine room. It was +the heads of the bolts which Koku had torn loose. Like hail they +fell about the giant, and in another instant the big man had +pulled loose the machine, weighing several hundreds of pounds. In +another moment he shoved it across the floor, toward the elevated +side of the craft.</p> + +<p>For a second or two nothing happened. Then slowly, very slowly, +the M. N. 1 began to heel over.</p> + +<p>"She's turning!" some one gasped.</p> + +<p>An instant later, freed by this turning motion from the grip of +the sand bank, the submarine shot to the surface. Up and up she +went, breaking out on the open sea as a great fish darts upward +from the hidden depths.</p> + +<p>It was the work of only a few seconds for the man nearest it to +open the hatch, and then in rushed the life-giving air. Tom and +his companions were saved, and by Koku's strength.</p> + +<p>"Me say him machine got to come up—him come up!" said the +giant, smiling in happy fashion, when, after they had all gulped +down great mouthfuls of the precious oxygen, they were talking of +their experience.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you certainly did it," said Tom, and due credit was given +to Koku.</p> + +<p>"Never again will I travel without a gyroscope," declared Tom. +"I'm almost ready to go back and have one installed now."</p> + +<p>"No, don't!" exclaimed the gold-seeker. "We are almost at the +place of the wreck."</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose we can travel more slowly and not run a risk +like that again," decided Tom. "I'll put double valves on the +emergency air tank, so no accident will release our supply +again."</p> + +<p>This was done, after the broken valves had been repaired, and +then, when the machine Koku had torn loose was fastened down +again, and the submarine restored to her former condition, a +consultation was held as to what the next step should be.</p> + +<p>They were in the neighborhood of the West Indies, and another +day, or perhaps less, of travel would bring them approximately to +the place where the Pandora had foundered. The latitude and +longitude had been computed, and then, with air tanks filled, +with batteries fully charged, and everything possible done to +insure success, the craft was sent on the last leg of her +journey.</p> + +<p>For two days they made progress, sometimes on the surface, and +again submerged, and, finally, on the second noon, when the sun +had been "shot," Tom said:</p> + +<p>"Well, we're here!"</p> + +<p>"You mean at the place of the wreck?" asked Mr. Hardley.</p> + +<p>"At the place where you say it was," corrected Tom.</p> + +<p>"Well, if this is the place of which I gave you the longitude +and latitude, then it's down below here, somewhere," and the +gold-seeker pointed to the surface of the sea. It was a calm day +and the ocean was the proverbial mill pond.</p> + +<p>"Let's go down and try our luck," suggested Tom.</p> + +<p>The orders were given, the tanks filled, the rudders set, and, +with hatches closed, the M. N. 1 submerged. Then, with the +powerful searchlight aglow, the search was begun. Moving along +only a few feet above the floor of the ocean, those in the +submarine peered from the glass windows for a sight of the sunken +Pandora.</p> + +<p>All the rest of that day they cruised about below the surface. +Then they moved in ever widening circles. Evening came, and the +wreck had not been found. The search was kept up all night, since +darkness and daylight were alike to those in the undersea craft.</p> + +<p>But when three days had passed and the Pandora had not been +seen, nor any signs of her, there was a feeling of something like +dismay.</p> + +<p>"Where is it?" demanded Mr. Hardley. "I don't see why we +haven't found it! Where is that wreck?" and he looked sharply at +Tom Swift.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chapterxviii" id="chapterxviii">CHAPTER XVIII</a></h2> + +<h3>A SEPARATION</h3> + +<p>"Mr. Hardley," began Tom calmly, as he took a seat in the main +cabin, "when we started this search I told you that hunting for +something on the bottom of the sea was not like locating a +building at the intersection of two streets."</p> + +<p>"Well, what if you did?" snapped the gold-seeker. "You're +supposed to do the navigating, not I! You said if I gave you the +latitude and longitude, down to seconds, as well as degrees and +minutes, which I have done, that you could bring your submarine +to that exact point."</p> + +<p>"I said that, and I have done it," declared Tom. "When we +computed our position the other day we were at the exact location +you gave me as being the spot where the Pandora foundered."</p> + +<p>"Then why isn't she here?" demanded the unpleasant adventurer. +"We went down to the bottom at the exact spot, and we've been +cruising around it ever since, but there isn't a sign of the +wreck. Why is it?"</p> + +<p>"I'm trying to explain," replied Tom, endeavoring to keep his +temper. "As I said, finding a place on the open sea is not like +going to the intersection of two streets. There everything is in +plain sight. But here our vision is limited, even with my big +searchlight. And being a few feet out of the way, as one is bound +to be in making nautical calculations, makes a lot of difference. +We may have been close to the wreck, but may have missed it by a +few yards."</p> + +<p>"Then what's to be done?" asked Mr. Hardley.</p> + +<p>"Keep on searching," Tom answered. "We have plenty of food and +supplies. I came out equipped for a long voyage, and I'm not +discouraged yet. Another thing. The ship may have moved on +several fathoms, or even a mile or two, after her last position +was taken before she went down. In that case she'd be all the +harder to find. And even granting that she sank where you think +she did, the ocean currents since then may have shifted her. Or +she may be covered by sand."</p> + +<p>"Covered by sand!" exclaimed the gold-seeker.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Tom. "The bottom of the ocean is always changing +and shifting. Storms produce changes in currents, and currents +wash the sand on the bottom in different directions. So that a +wreck which may have been exposed at one time may be covered a +day or so later. We'll have to keep on searching. I'm not ready +to give up."</p> + +<p>"Maybe not. But I am!" snapped out Mr. Hardley.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" asked the young inventor.</p> + +<p>"Just what I said," was the quick answer. "I'm not going to +stay down here, cruising about without knowing where I'm going. +It looks to me as if you were hunting for a needle in a +haystack."</p> + +<p>"That's just about what we are doing," and Tom tried to speak +good-naturedly.</p> + +<p>"Then do you know what I think?" the gold-seeker fairly shot +forth.</p> + +<p>"Not exactly," Tom replied.</p> + +<p>"I think that you don't understand your business, Swift!" was +the instant retort. "You pretend to be a navigator, or have men +who are, and yet when I give you simple and explicit directions +for finding a sunken wreck you can't do it, and you cruise all +around looking for it like a dog that has lost the scent! You +don't know your business, in my estimation!"</p> + +<p>"Well, you are entitled to your opinion, of course," agreed +Tom, and both Mr. Damon and Ned were surprised to see him so +calm. "I admit we haven't found the wreck, and may not, for some +time."</p> + +<p>"Then why don't you admit you're incompetent?" cried Mr. +Hardley.</p> + +<p>"I don't see why I should," said Tom, still keeping calm. "But +since you feel that way about it, I think the best thing for us +to do is to separate."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" stormed the other.</p> + +<p>"I mean that I will set you ashore at the nearest place, and +that all arrangements between us are at an end."</p> + +<p>"All right then! Do it! Do it!" cried Mr. Hardley, shaking his +fist, but at no one in particular. "I'm through with you! But +this is your own decision. You broke the contract—I didn't, and +I'll not pay a cent toward the expenses of this trip, Swift! Mark +my words! I won't pay a cent! I'll claim the money I deposited in +the bank, and I won't pay a cent!"</p> + +<p>"I'm not asking you to!" returned Tom. with a smile that showed +how he had himself in command. "You put up a bond, secured by a +deposit, to insure your share of the expenses—yours and Mr. +Damon's. Very well, we'll consider that bond canceled. I won't +charge you a cent for this trip. But, mark this, Hardley: What I +find from now on, is my own! You don't share in it!"</p> + +<p>"You mean that—"</p> + +<p>"I mean that if I discover the wreck of the Pandora and take +the gold from her, that it is all my own. I will share it with +Mr. Damon, provided he remains with me—"</p> + +<p>"Bless my silk hat, Tom, of course I'll stay with you!" broke +in the eccentric man.</p> + +<p>"But you don't share with me," went on the young inventor, +looking sternly at the gold-seeker. "What I find is my own!"</p> + +<p>"All right—have it that way!" snapped the adventurer. "Set me +ashore as soon as you can—the sooner the better. I'm sick of +the way you do business!"</p> + +<p>"Nothing like being honest!" murmured Ned. But, as a matter of +fact, he was glad the separation had come. There had been a +strain ever since Hardley came aboard. Mr. Damon, too, looked +relieved, though a trifle worried. He had considerable at stake, +and he stood to lose the money he had invested with Dixwell +Hardley.</p> + +<p>"This is final," announced Tom. "If we separate we separate for +good, and I'm on my own. And I warn you I'll do my best to +discover that wreck, and I'll keep what I find."</p> + +<p>"Much good may it do you!" sneered the other. "Perhaps two can +play that game."</p> + +<p>No one paid much attention to his words then, but later they +were recalled with significance.</p> + +<p>"Get ready to go up!" Tom called the order to the engine room.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going to land me?" asked Mr. Hardley. "I have a +right to know that?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," conceded Tom, "you have. I'll tell you in a moment."</p> + +<p>He consulted a chart, made a few calculations and then spoke.</p> + +<p>"I shall land you at St. Thomas," answered the young inventor. +"I do not wish to bring my submarine to a place that is too +public, as too many questions may be asked. From St. Thomas you +can easily reach Porto Rico, and from there you can go anywhere +you wish."</p> + +<p>"Very well," murmured the malcontent. "But I don't consider +that I owe you a cent, and I'm not going to pay you."</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't take your money," Tom answered. "And don't forget +what I said—that what I find is my own."</p> + +<p>The other answered nothing. Nor from then on did he hold much +conversation with Tom or any others in the party. He kept to +himself, and a day later he was landed, at night, at a dock, and +if he said "good-bye" or wished Tom and his friends a safe +voyage, they did not hear him.</p> + +<p>They were steaming along on the surface the next day, and at +noon the submarine suddenly halted.</p> + +<p>"What's on now, Tom?" asked Ned, as he saw his chum prepare to +go up on deck with some of the craft's officers.</p> + +<p>"We're going to 'shoot the sun' again," was the answer. "I want +to make sure that we were right in our former calculations as to +the position of the Pandora. The least error would throw us off."</p> + +<p>Using the sextant and other apparatus, some of which Tom had +invented himself, the exact position of the submarine was +calculated. As the last figure was set down and compared with +their previous location, one of the men who had been doing the +computing gave an exclamation.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Look!" was the answer, and he pointed to the paper. "There's +where a mistake was made before. We were at least two miles off +our course</p> + +<p>"You don't say so!" exclaimed Tom, and, taking the sheet, he +went rapidly over the results.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chapterxix" id="chapterxix">CHAPTER XIX</a></h2> + +<h3>THE SERPENT WEED</h3> + +<p>All waited eagerly for Tom Swift to verify the statement of the +other mathematician, and the young inventor was not long in doing +this, for he had what is commonly known as a "good head for +figures."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I see the mistake," said Tom. "The wrong logarithm was +taken, and of course that threw out all the calculations. I +should say we were nearer three miles off our supposed location +than two miles."</p> + +<p>"Does that mean," asked Mr. Damon, "that we began a search for +the wreck of the Pandora three miles from the place Hardley told +us she was</p> + +<p>"That's about it," Tom said. "No wonder we couldn't find her."</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do?" Ned wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"Get to the right spot as soon as possible and begin the search +there," Tom answered. "You see, before we submerged as nearly as +possible at the place where we thought the Pandora might be on +the ocean bottom. From there we began making circles under the +sea, enlarging the diameter each circuit.</p> + +<p>"That didn't bring us anywhere, as you all know. Now we will +start our series of circles with a different point as the center. +It will bring us over an entirely different territory of the +ocean floor."</p> + +<p>"Just a moment," said Ned, as the conference was about to break +up. "Is it possible, Tom, that in our first circling that we +covered any of the ground which we may cover now? I mean will the +new circles we propose making coincide at any place with the +previous ones</p> + +<p>"They won't exactly coincide," answered the young inventor. +"You can't make circles coincide unless you use the same center +and the same radius each time. But the two series of circles will +intersect at certain places."</p> + +<p>"I guess intersect is the word I wanted," admitted Ned.</p> + +<p>"What's the idea?" Tom wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"I'm thinking of Hardley," answered his chum. "He might assert +that we purposely went to the wrong location with him to begin +the search, and if we afterward find the wreck and the gold, he +may claim a share."</p> + +<p>"Not much he won't!" cried Tom.</p> + +<p>"Bless my check book, I should say not!" exclaimed Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Hardley broke off relations with us of his own volition," said +Tom. "He 'breached the contract,' as the lawyers say. It was his +own doing.</p> + +<p>"He has put me to considerable expense and trouble, not to say +danger. He was aware of that, and yet he refused to pay his +share. He accused me of incompetence. Very well. That +presuggested that I must have made an error, and it was on that +assumption that he said I did not know my business. Instead of +giving me a chance to correct the error, which he declared I had +made, he quit—cold. Now he is entitled to no further +consideration.</p> + +<p>"An error was made—there's no question of that. We are going +to correct it, and we may find the gold. If we do I shall feel I +have a legal and moral right to take all of it I can get. Mr. +Hardley, to use a comprehensive, but perhaps not very elegant +expression, may go fish for his share."</p> + +<p>"That's right!" asserted Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"I guess you're right, Tom," declared Ned. "There's only one +more thing to be considered."</p> + +<p>"What's that?" asked the young inventor.</p> + +<p>"Why, Hardley himself may find out in some way that we were +barking up the wrong tree, so to speak. That is, learn we started +at the wrong nautical point. He may get up another expedition to +come and search for the gold and—"</p> + +<p>"Well, he has that right and privilege," said Tom coolly. "But +I don't believe he will. Anyhow, if he does, we have the same +chance, and a better one than he has. We're right here, almost on +the ground, you might say, or we shall be in half an hour. Then +we'll begin our search. If he beats us to it, that can't be +helped, and we'll be as fair to him as he was to us. This +treasure, as I understand it, is available to whoever first finds +it, now that the real owners, whoever they were, have given it +up."</p> + +<p>"I guess you're right there," said Mr. Damon. "I'm no sea +lawyer, but I believe that in this case finding is keeping."</p> + +<p>"And there isn't one chance in a hundred that Hardley can get +another submarine here to start the search," went on Tom. "Of +course it's possible, but not very probable."</p> + +<p>"He might get an ordinary diving outfit and try," Ned +suggested.</p> + +<p>"Not many ordinary divers would take a chance going down in the +open sea to the depth the Pandora is supposed to lie," Tom said. +"But, with all that, we have the advantage of being on the +ground, and I'm going to make use of that advantage right away."</p> + +<p>He gave orders at once for the M. N. 1 to proceed, and this she +did on the surface. It was decided to steam along on the open sea +until the exact nautical position desired was reached. This +position was the same Mr. Hardley had indicated, but that +position was not before attained, owing to an error in the +calculations.</p> + +<p>As all know, to get to a certain point on the surface of the +ocean, where there is no land to give location, a navigator has +to depend on mathematical calculations. The earth's surface is +divided by imaginary lines. The lines drawn from the north to the +south poles are called meridians of longitude. They are marked in +degrees, and indicate distance east or west of the meridian of, +say, Greenwich, England, which is taken as one of the centers. +The degrees are further divided into minutes and seconds, each +minute being a sixtieth of a degree and each second, naturally, +the sixtieth of a minute.</p> + +<p>Now, if a navigator had to depend only on the meridian lines +indicating distance east and west, he might be almost any +distance north or south of where he wanted to go. So the earth is +further divided into sections by other imaginary lines called +parallels of latitude. As all know, these indicate the distance +north or south of the middle line, or the equator. The equator +goes around the earth at the middle, so to speak, running from +east to west, or from west to east, according as it is looked at. +The meridian of Greenwich may be regarded as a sort of half +equator, running half way around the earth in exactly the +opposite direction, or from north to south.</p> + +<p>The place where any two of these imaginary lines, crossing at +right angles, meet may be exactly determined by the science of +navigation. It is a complicated and difficult science, but by +calculating the distance of the sun above the horizon, sometimes +by views of stars, by knowing the speed of the ship, and by +having the exact astronomical time at hand, shown on an accurate +chronometer, the exact position of a ship at any hour may be +determined.</p> + +<p>By this means, if a navigator wants to get to a place where two +certain lines cross, indicating an exact spot in the ocean, he is +able to do so. He can tell for instance when he has reached the +place where the seventy-second degree of longitude, west from +Greenwich, meets and crossed the twentieth parallel of latitude. +This spot is just off the northern coast of Haiti. Other +positions are likewise determined.</p> + +<p>It was after about an hour of rather slow progress on the +surface of the calm sea, no excess speed being used for fear of +over-running the mark, that Tom and his associates gathered on +deck again to make another calculation.</p> + +<p>Long and carefully they worked out their position, and when, at +last, the figures had been checked and checked again, to obviate +the chance of another error, the young inventor exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Well, we're here!"</p> + +<p>"Really?" cried Ned.</p> + +<p>"No doubt of it," said his chum.</p> + +<p>"Bless my doormat!" cried Mr. Damon. "And do you mean to say, +Tom Swift, that if we submerge now we'll be exactly where the +Pandora lies, a wreck on the floor of the ocean</p> + +<p>"I mean to say that we're at exactly the spot Where Hardley +said she went down," corrected Tom, "and we weren't there before +—that is not so that we actually knew it. Now we are, and we're +going down. But that doesn't guarantee that we'll find the wreck. +She may have shifted, or be covered with sand. All that I said +before in reference to the difficulty in locating something under +the surface of the sea still holds good."</p> + +<p>Once more, to make very certain there was no error, the figures +were gone over, Then, as one result checked the other, Tom put +away the papers, the nautical almanac, and said:</p> + +<p>"Let's go!"</p> + +<p>Slowly the tanks of the M. N. 1 began to fill. It was decided +to let her sink straight down, instead of descending by means of +the vertical rudders. In that way it was hoped to land her as +nearly as possible on the exact spot where the Pandora was +supposed to be.</p> + +<p>"How deep will it be, Tom?" asked Ned, as he stood beside his +chum in the forward observation cabin and watched the needle of +the gauge move higher and higher.</p> + +<p>"About six hundred feet, I judge, going by the character of the +sea bottom around here. Certainly not more than eight hundred I +should say." And Tom was right. At seven hundred and eighty-six +feet the gauge stopped moving, and a slight jar told all on board +that the submarine was again on the ocean floor.</p> + +<p>"Now to look for the wreck!" exclaimed Tom. "And it will be a +real search this time. We know we are starting right."</p> + +<p>"Are you going to put on diving suits and walk around looking +for her?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"No, that would take too long," answered Tom. "We'll just +cruise about, beginning with small circles and gradually +enlarging them, spiral fashion. We'll have to go up a few feet to +get off the bottom."</p> + +<p>As Tom was about to give this order Ned looked from the glass +windows. The powerful searchlight had been switched on and its +gleams illuminated the ocean in the immediate vicinity of the +craft.</p> + +<p>As was generally the case, the light attracted hundreds of fish +of various shapes, sizes, and, since the waters were tropical, +beautiful colors. They swarmed in front of the glass windows, and +Ned was glad to note that there were no large sea creatures, like +horse mackerel or big sharks. Somehow or other, Ned had a horror +of big fish. There were sharks in the warm waters, he well knew, +but he hoped they would keep away, even though he did not have to +encounter any in the diving suit.</p> + +<p>Slowly the submarine began to move. And as she was being +elevated slightly above the ocean bed, to enable her to proceed, +Ned uttered an exclamation and pointed to the windows.</p> + +<p>"Look, Tom!" he cried.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" the young inventor asked.</p> + +<p>"Snakes!" whispered his chum. "Millions of 'em! Out there in +the water! Look how they're writhing about!"</p> + +<p>Tom Swift laughed.</p> + +<p>"Those aren't snakes!" he said. "That's serpent grass—a form +of very long seaweed which grows on certain bottoms. It attains a +length of fifty feet sometimes, and the serpent weed looks a good +deal like a nest of snakes. That's how it got its name. I didn't +know there was any here. But we must have dropped down into a bed +of it."</p> + +<p>"Any danger?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Not that I know of, only it may make it more difficult for us +to see the wreck of the Pandora."</p> + +<p>As Tom turned to leave the cabin the submarine suddenly ceased +moving. And she came to a gradual stop as though she had been +"snubbed" by a mooring line.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what's the matter!" exclaimed Tom. "We can't have +come upon the wreck so soon."</p> + +<p>At that moment a man entered the cabin.</p> + +<p>"Trouble, Mr. Swift!" he reported.</p> + +<p>"What kind?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Our propellers are tangled with a mass of serpent weed," was +the answer. "They're both fouled, and we can't budge."</p> + +<p>"Bless my anchor chain!" ejaculated Mr. Damon. "Stuck again!"</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chapterxx" id="chapterxx">CHAPTER XX</a></h2> + +<h3>THE DEVIL FISH</h3> + +<p>It was true. The long sinuous strands of ocean grass, known +under the name of "serpent weed," had caught around the whirling +propellers and there had been wound and twisted very tightly. +Just as sometimes the stern line gets so tightly twisted around a +motor boat propeller as to require hours of work with an axe to +free it, the seaweed was twisted around the blades of the +M. N. 1.</p> + +<p>Slowly the undersea craft came to a stop, and there she +remained, floating freely enough, but a few feet above the bottom +of the ocean. There was a look of alarm on the faces of Ned and +Mr. Damon, but Tom Swift smiled.</p> + +<p>"This is annoying, and may cause us delay," he announced, "but +there is no danger."</p> + +<p>"How are we to get free from the weed?" asked Mr. Damon. "We +can't move if it's wound around our propellers, can we?"</p> + +<p>"Not very well," Tom answered. "But all that will have to be +done will be for some of us to put on diving suits, go out and +chop the strands of weed away. We can do it more easily than +could an ordinary vessel, for they would have to go into dry dock +for the purpose. I think I'll go out myself. I want to look +around a little."</p> + +<p>"I'll go with you," said Ned. "As long as we haven't seen any +sharks I don't mind."</p> + +<p>"Nor gigantic starfish, either," added Tom with a smile, and +Ned nodded in agreement.</p> + +<p>"We might try reversing the propellers," suggested the man from +the engine room, who had come in with the information about the +serpent weed. "The chief didn't like to try that. We saw the weed +from our observation windows and stopped as soon as we felt we +had fouled it."</p> + +<p>"That was right," commended Tom. "Well, try reversing. It can't +do any harm, and it may make it easier for us to free the +propellers when we go out."</p> + +<p>He went to the engine room himself to see that everything was +properly attended to. Slowly the motors were reversed, and only a +slight current was given them, as, with the resistance of the +tightly wound weed, too powerful a force might burn out the +insulation.</p> + +<p>Slowly the starting lever was thrown over. There was a low +humming and whining as the current jumped from the batteries, and +a slight vibration of the craft. Tom looked at the movable +pointer which showed the speed and direction of the propellers. +The hand oscillated slightly and then stopped.</p> + +<p>"Shut off the current!" cried Tom. "It's of no use. The +propellers are held as tight as a drum! We've got to go out and +cut loose the serpent weed!"</p> + +<p>The experiment of reversing the propellers had failed. But +still Tom did not believe his craft was in danger. He gave orders +for the engine room force to stand by and then arranged for +himself, Ned, and Koku to go outside in diving dress and cut the +weed off the shafts. There were twin propellers on the submarine, +each revolving independently by separate motors, and each capable +of being sent in forward or reverse direction.</p> + +<p>"Start the engines as soon as we give the signal," Tom told the +machinist. "Two knocks on the hull with an axe will mean go +ahead, and three will mean reverse."</p> + +<p>"I understand," said Weyth, the machinist. "But stand away from +the propellers after you give the signal. I'll give you three +minutes to move clear."</p> + +<p>"That will be enough," Tom said. "But better make it half speed +in either case. My idea is that if we can partly cut the weed +off, starting the propellers, either forward or in reverse, will +finish the trick."</p> + +<p>"It may," agreed Weyth.</p> + +<p>Armed with axes and sharp steel bars, Tom, Ned, and Koku were +soon ready to step outside the submarine.</p> + +<p>They entered the diving chamber. In the usual manner water was +admitted, and, when the pressure was equalized, the outer door +was opened and they walked out on the floor of the ocean, the +submarine having been allowed to settle down again on the bottom +of the Atlantic.</p> + +<p>The powerful searchlight had been turned so that the beams were +diffused toward the stern. In addition to this Tom and his two +companions carried, attached to their suits, small, but +brilliant, electric torches. Of course they had their air tanks +with them, and also the telephones, by means of which they could +communicate with one another.</p> + +<p>As they emerged into the warm waters surrounding the submarine +they disturbed thousands of small fish which were feeding all +about. Like ocean swallows, the creatures scattered in all +directions, some even brushing the divers as they slowly made +their way toward the stern of the craft.</p> + +<p>"Nice place here," said Ned to Tom, as they walked along, Koku +coming just behind them.</p> + +<p>"Yes. If we could take this up above and exhibit it in some +city park it would make a hit all right," answered the young +inventor.</p> + +<p>They were walking on the pure, white, sandy floor of the ocean, +some seven hundred feet below the surface, protected from the +awful pressure of the water by means of the specially constructed +suits which Tom had invented. About them, growing as if in a +garden, were great masses of coral, some so thin and sinuous that +it waved as do palms and ferns in the open air. Other coral was +in great rock masses.</p> + +<p>Then, too, there was the unpleasant serpent weed. It did not +grow all over, but in patches here and there, as rank grass +springs up in a meadow.</p> + +<p>And it had been the misfortune of the M. N. 1 that she poked +her tail into a mass of this long, tough grass, which was now +wound about her propellers.</p> + +<p>In addition to the many wonderful vegetable forms that grew on +the ocean floor, some rivalling in beauty the orchids of the +tropics, and almost as delicate, there were the fishes, which +darted to and fro, now swiftly swimming beneath some coral arch, +and again poising around some mass of waving sea fronds.</p> + +<p>"Well, let's get busy," called Tom to Ned through the +telephone. "We want to free the propellers and find the wreck of +the Pandora. She may be a hundred feet from us, or a mile away, +and in that case it's going to take longer to locate her."</p> + +<p>Together they walked to the stern of the disabled craft. One +look at the propeller shafts, the examination being made by the +diffused glow from the searchlight, as well as from the electric +torches carried, showed that the diagnosis of the trouble was +correct.</p> + +<p>Wound around both propellers was a mass of the serpent weed, +tightly bound because the machinery had whirled it around and +around after the grass had once been caught. It was almost as bad +as though manila cable had been thus accidentally fastened.</p> + +<p>"Well, might as well begin to cut it loose," said Tom to his +companions. "Koku, you take the port propeller, and Ned and I +will work on the other. You ought to be able to beat us at this +game."</p> + +<p>"Me do," said the giant, as he got his axe ready for work.</p> + +<p>Blows struck in water lose much of their force. This can easily +be proved by filling a bathtub full of water, rolling up the +sleeves, and then taking a hammer in the hand, immersing it +fully, and trying to strike some object held in the other hand. +The water hampers the blows.</p> + +<p>It was this way with Tom and his friends. Nearly half of Koku's +great strength was wasted. But they knew they could take their +time, though they did not want to waste many hours.</p> + +<p>The streamers of weed were like strands of tightly wound rope, +and this, under certain circumstances, acquires almost the +density of wood. Tom and Ned, working together, had managed to +chop a little off their propeller shaft, and Koku had done +somewhat better with his task, when Ned became aware of a shadow +passing above him.</p> + +<p>Instinctively he looked up, and as he did so he could not +repress a start of horror. Tom, too, as well as Koku, saw the +menacing shadow. Ned grasped more tightly his sharp, steel bar +and spoke through the telephone to his companions.</p> + +<p>"Devil fish!" he said. "The devil fish are after us."</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chapterxxi" id="chapterxxi">CHAPTER XXI</a></h2> + +<h3>A WAR REMINDER</h3> + +<p>To a large number of people the name devil fish brings to mind +a conception of an octopus, squid, cuttle fish, or a member of +that species. This is, however, a mistake.</p> + +<p>The true devil fish of the tropics is a member of the sting ray +family, and the common name it bears is given to it because of +two prongs, or horns, which project just in front of its mouth. +His Satanic Majesty is popularly supposed to have horns, together +with a tail, hoofs and other appendages, and the horns of this +sting ray fish are what give it the name it bears.</p> + +<p>The devil fish, some specimens of which grow to the weight of a +ton and measure fifteen feet from wing tip to wing tip, are armed +with a long tail, terminating in a tough, horny substance, like +many of the ray family members. This horn-tipped tail, lashing +about in the water, becomes a terrible weapon of defense. +Possibly it is used for offense, as the devil fish feeds on small +sea animals, sweeping them into its mouth by movements of the +horns mentioned. These horns, swirled about in the water, create +a sort of suction current, and on that the food fishes are borne +into the maw of the gigantic creature.</p> + +<p>A whale rushes through a school of small sea animals with open +mouth, takes in a great quantity of water, and the fringe of +whalebone acts as a strainer, letting out the water and retaining +the food. In like manner the devil fish feeds, except that it has +no whalebone. Its "horns" help it to get a meal.</p> + +<p>The "wing tips" of the devil fish have been spoken of. They are +not really wings, though when one of these fish breaks water and +shoots through the air, it appears to be flying. The wings are +merely fins, enormously enlarged, and these give the fish its +great size, rather than does the body itself. It is the whipping +spike-armed tail of the devil fish that is to be feared, aside +from the fact that the rush of a monster might swamp a small +boat.</p> + +<p>It was two or three of these devil fish that were now floating +in the water above Tom and his companions, who were grouped about +the stern of the disabled submarine.</p> + +<p>"They won't attack us unless we disturb them," said Tom through +his telephone, speaking to Ned and Koku. "Keep still and they'll +swim away. I guess they're trying to find out what new kind of +fish our boat is."</p> + +<p>All might have gone well had not Koku acted precipitately. One +of the devil fish, the smallest of the trio, measuring about ten +feet across, swam down near the giant. It was an uncanny looking +creature, with its horns swirling about in the water and its +bone-tipped tail lashing to and fro like a venomous serpent.</p> + +<p>"Look out!" cried Tom. But he was too late. Koku raised his axe +and struck with all his force at the sea beast. He hit it a +glancing blow, not enough to kill it, but to wound it, and +immediately the sea was crimsoned with blood.</p> + +<p>The devil fish was able to observe under water better than its +human enemies, and it was in no doubt as to its assailant. In an +instant it attacked the giant, seeking to pierce him with the +deadly tail.</p> + +<p>These tails are not only armed with a tip of horn-like +hardness, they are also poisonous, and their penetrating power is +great. Fishermen have sometimes caught small sting rays, which +are a sort of devil fish. Lashing about in the bottom of a boat a +sting ray can send its tail tip through the sole of a heavy boot +and inflict a painful wound which may cause serious results.</p> + +<p>The beast Koku had wounded was trying to sting the giant, and +the latter, aware of his peril, was striking out with the axe.</p> + +<p>"Look out, Tom!" called Ned through his telephone, as he saw +one of the two unwounded devil fish swirl down toward the young +inventor. Tom looked up, saw the big, horrible shape above him, +and jabbed it with the sharp, steel bar. He inflicted a wound +which added further to the crimson tinge in the sea, and that +fish now attacked Tom Swift.</p> + +<p>In another instant all three divers were fighting the terrible +creatures, that, knowing by instinct they were in danger, were +using the weapon with which nature had provided them. They lashed +about with their sharp-pointed tails, and more than one blow fell +on the suits of the divers.</p> + +<p>Had there been the least penetration, of course almost instant +death would have followed. For the sea, at that depth and +pressure, entering the suits would have ended life suddenly. But +Tom had seen to it that the suits were well made and strong, with +a lining of steel. And however great a thickness of leather the +devil fish could send his sting through, it could not overcome +steel.</p> + +<p>There was danger, though, that the slender tip might slip +through the steel bars across the windows in the helmets and +shatter the glass. And that would be as great a danger as if the +suits themselves were penetrated.</p> + +<p>"We've got to fight 'em!" gasped Tom through his instrument, +and, seeing his chance, he gave another jab to the devil fish +attacking him. Koku, too, was standing up well under the attack +of the monster he had first wounded. Ned, watching his chance, +got in several blows, first at one and then at the other of the +huge creatures. The third devil fish, which had not been wounded, +had disappeared. Finally Koku, with a desperate blow, succeeded +in severing the tail from the beast attacking him, and that +battle was over.</p> + +<p>As if realizing that it had lost its power to harm, the devil +fish at once swam off, grievously wounded. Then Koku turned his +attention to Tom's enemy. Ned, too, lent his aid, and they +succeeded in wounding the creature in several places, so that it +sank to the bottom of the sea and lay there gasping.</p> + +<p>Slowly the red waters cleared and the three divers, exhausted +by the fight, could view the remaining creature—the one wounded +to death. It was the largest of the three, and truly it was a +monster. But it was past the power to harm, and in a few minutes +an under sea current carried it slowly away. Later it would +float, doubtless, or be devoured by sharks or other ocean pirates +before reaching the surface.</p> + +<p>"Thank goodness that's over!" said Ned to Tom. "I don't want to +see any more of them."</p> + +<p>"There may be more about," Tom said. "We'd better keep watch. +Ned, you lay off and Koku and I will work on the propellers. Then +you can take your turn."</p> + +<p>This plan was followed. Koku, not being tired, did not need to +stop working, and he was the first to free his shaft partially of +the entangling weeds. Tom rapped a signal, the blades were slowly +revolved and then came free. A little later the second was in +like condition.</p> + +<p>"Now we can move!" said Tom, as they started back toward the +diving chamber. "I hope we don't run into another patch of that +serpent grass."</p> + +<p>"Nor see any more devil fish," added Ned.</p> + +<p>"Same here!" echoed the young inventor.</p> + +<p>Luck seemed to be with the gold-seekers after that, for as the +submarine was sent ahead, no more of the long, entangling grass +was encountered.</p> + +<p>The search for the sunken Pandora was now begun in earnest, +since they were positive that they were at the right spot.</p> + +<p>No immediate sign of her was found. But Tom and his friends +hardly expected to be as lucky as that. They were willing to make +a search. For, as Tom had said, a current might have shifted the +position of the wreck.</p> + +<p>They followed the plan of moving about in ever-widening +circles. Only in this way could they successfully cover the +ground. It was the third day after the encounter with the devil +fish that Tom, Ned and Mr. Damon were in the forward observation +cabin. The eccentric man suddenly pointed to something visible +from the starboard window.</p> + +<p>"There's a wreck, Tom!" he cried. "Maybe it's the Pandora!"</p> + +<p>Tom and the others hurried to Mr. Damon's side and peered out +into the sea, illuminated by the great searchlight.</p> + +<p>"That isn't the Pandora!" said the young inventor.</p> + +<p>"But it's a wreck, isn't it?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it's a sunken vessel, all right," Tom assented. "But it's +a reminder of the Great War. Look! She has been blown up by a +torpedo!"</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chapterxxii" id="chapterxxii">CHAPTER XXII</a></h2> + +<h3>STUDYING CURRENTS</h3> + +<p>There was no question about Tom's statement. They had +approached close to the side of a small, sunken and wrecked +steamer, and in her side was torn a great hole. In the light from +the submarine it could be seen that the plates bent inward, +indicating that the explosion was from outside.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do, Tom?" asked Ned, as he saw his chum +move the engine room telegraph signal to the stop position.</p> + +<p>"Going to investigate," was the answer. "We might as well take +the time. We may learn something of value."</p> + +<p>"Do you think there is any treasure in her?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"There might be," answered Tom. "We'll put on the diving suits +and go outside."</p> + +<p>"I hope there aren't any devil fish," remarked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Same here," Tom agreed. "But I don't believe we'll meet with +any. Will you take a chance, Ned?"</p> + +<p>"I surely will! I'd like to find out what sort of ship that is +—or rather, was, for there isn't much left of her."</p> + +<p>He spoke truly, for indeed the torpedo had created fearful +havoc. The full extent of it was not observed until Tom, Ned, +Koku and two of the crew had put on diving suits and approached +the hulk. She lay on her side on the sandy bottom, heeled over +somewhat, and when the investigators had walked around her, as +they were able to do, they saw a second, and even larger hole in +the opposite side.</p> + +<p>"Two submarines must have attacked her," said Ned, speaking +through his telephone to Tom.</p> + +<p>"Either that, or else one sent a torpedo into her, dived, came +up on the other side and sent another."</p> + +<p>"Well, let's see if she has any treasure aboard," Ned proposed. +"Wouldn't it be queer if we should discover two treasure ships?"</p> + +<p>"More queer than likely," Tom answered. "We've got to be +careful going inside her."</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Ned. "Do you think we'll set off a hidden mine?"</p> + +<p>"No, but part of the wreckage might be loosened if we climbed +over it, and we might fall and be pinned down. I've read of +divers being caught that way. We must be careful."</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose a German sub did this?" Ned asked.</p> + +<p>"I think very likely," Tom answered. "Maybe we can tell if we +can discover the nationality of this craft."</p> + +<p>They made their way to a position just outside the gaping hole +in the starboard side of the craft. Evidently; it was, or had +been, a tramp steamer, and the torpedo hole on her starboard side +was about amidships. She must have filled and sunk quickly with +two such great holes torn in her.</p> + +<p>Standing near the wound in the steel skin, Tom and his +companions tried to see what was inside. Their portable torches +did not give light enough to make out clearly the character of +the cargo carried, and it was too risky to venture into the mass +of wreckage that must be the result of the explosion of the +torpedo.</p> + +<p>"Let's try the other side," suggested Tom, and they moved +around the stern of the craft. When they reached the place where +the name was visible Tom raised his electric torch and, in the +glow of it, they all read the painted inscription, Blakesly, New +York.</p> + +<p>"That's the vessel that disappeared so mysteriously!" exclaimed +Ned, speaking through his instrument. "I remember reading about +her. She sailed from New York for Brest, but was never heard of. +At last we have solved the mystery!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," agreed Tom, "but without much avail. We are too late to +do any good."</p> + +<p>"Not one of her crew or passengers was ever heard of," went on +Ned. "It was surmised that a German sub attacked her, and that +she was either sunk 'without a trace' or else her survivors were +taken aboard the submarine and carried to Germany."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we may learn something to that end," said Tom, as they +got around to the other side. The hole there was not quite so +big, and as it seemed safe to enter Tom and Ned prepared to do +so, the others remaining outside to give them aid in case of +necessity.</p> + +<p>It was comparatively easy to enter by this wound in the side of +the Blakesly, and, proceeding cautiously, Tom and Ned made the +attempt. They found they could not penetrate far, however, +because of the mass of wreckage scattered about by the explosion. +They could see through into the engine room, and there the +machinery was in every stage of destruction, while below the +boilers were disrupted.</p> + +<p>"She must have gone down in a hurry," remarked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and with part of her crew," added Ned, as he pointed to +where a heap of white bones lay—grim reminders of the Great War. +The engine room forces had been trapped and carried down to +death.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if, by any chance, she did carry gold," suggested +Ned.</p> + +<p>"It wouldn't be down here if she did," asserted Tom. "And if +she was a treasure ship, and the huns knew it, they wouldn't +leave any on board."</p> + +<p>"That's just it," went on his chum. "They may not have known +it, and have ripped a couple of torpedoes at her without any +warning. It would be just like them."</p> + +<p>"Granted," assented the young inventor. "Well, we can take +another look around outside. Maybe there's a way of getting on +deck, and so going below from there. I wouldn't chance it from +here."</p> + +<p>"Me, either," Ned answered.</p> + +<p>They looked around a little more, a further view showing how +dangerous it would be to attempt to enter the shattered engine +room, where a misstep or a sudden change of equilibrium might +cause disaster.</p> + +<p>"Nothing there," Tom reported to Koku and the others waiting +for him outside.</p> + +<p>"Rope by up go him stern," said Koku, motioning toward the +after part of the wreck.</p> + +<p>"What does he mean?" Tom asked one of his crew.</p> + +<p>"Oh, he went walking around outside while you were inside, +sir," was the answer, "and he seems to have found a rope ladder +or a chain, or something hanging from the stern."</p> + +<p>"Let's go and see it," proposed Tom. "I've been wondering if we +could get on deck."</p> + +<p>"Are we going to spend much time here?" Ned wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"Not much longer," Tom replied. "Why?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I was thinking we'd better keep on looking for the +Pandora. I don't want that fellow Hardley to get the bulge on +us."</p> + +<p>"Oh," laughed Tom, "he isn't likely to. But we won't take any +chances. As soon as I see if we can learn anything that may be +useful from this hulk, we'll go back and start on our way again."</p> + +<p>The party of divers, led by Koku, who wanted to point out his +discovery, walked slowly along on the bottom of the sea, around +to the stern of the Blakesly.</p> + +<p>"See!" said the giant through his telephone, and, as the +instruments were interchanging, all heard him.</p> + +<p>Koku pointed to several ropes and chains that were dangling +from the stern of the sunken craft. Evidently they had been used +by those who sought to escape from the sinking ship after she had +been torpedoed.</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute!" Tom telephoned, as he saw Koku grasp a chain, +evidently with the object of hoisting himself up on deck by the +simple method of going up hand over hand. He could easily do this +by adjusting the air pressure inside his diving suit to make +himself more buoyant.</p> + +<p>"Koku go up!" said the giant.</p> + +<p>"Better make sure that chain will hold you," cautioned Tom. The +giant proved it by several powerful tugs, and then began to raise +himself from the sandy bed of the ocean.</p> + +<p>"Well, if it will hold him it will hold us," asserted Tom. +"Ned, we'll go up. You two stay here," he said to the members of +his crew. "We can't take any chances of all getting in the same +accident if there should be one."</p> + +<p>A little later Tom, Ned, and Koku stood on the deck of the +sunken craft. Much of what she had carried had been swept off, +either in the explosions or by reason of currents generated by +storms since the fatality. But what seemed to be the cabin of the +captain, or of some of the officers, was in plain view and easy +of access from this level.</p> + +<p>"Let's take a look!" said Tom.</p> + +<p>Ned followed him to the door. It had been torn off, and inside +was a table made fast to the floor. From the appearance of the +room it was evidently the compartment where the charts were kept, +and where the captain or his officers worked out the reckoning. +But it was tenantless now, and if any maps or papers had been out +they were dissolved in sea water some time since.</p> + +<p>"Let's see if we can find the log book," proposed Ned.</p> + +<p>"Good idea," assented Tom.</p> + +<p>Using the iron bars they carried, they forced open some of the +lockers, but aside from pulp, which might have been charts or +almost anything in the way of documents, nothing was come upon +that would tell anything.</p> + +<p>Unless the log book was kept in a water-tight case the ink +would all run, once it was wet," Tom said, when they were about +ready to give up their search.</p> + +<p>"I suppose so," agreed Ned. "But I would like to know whether +she carried treasure."</p> + +<p>However, it was impossible to discover this, and dangerous to +look too far into the interior. So Tom and his party were forced +to leave without discovering the secret of the Blakesly, if she +possessed one.</p> + +<p>Later, however, when they had returned home, Tom and Ned made a +report of what they had seen, and so cleared up the fate of the +vessel. They learned that she carried no treasure, and they were +glad they had not risked their lives looking for it. What had +happened to her crew was never learned.</p> + +<p>They returned to the submarine and told what they had viewed. +And then, with a last look at the wreck, they passed on in their +search for the Pandora.</p> + +<p>Several fruitless days followed, and though a careful search +was made in the vicinity of the true location given by Mr. +Hardley, nothing was discovered.</p> + +<p>"How long will you keep at it before you give up?" asked Ned +one evening, as they went aloft to replenish the air tanks and +charge the batteries.</p> + +<p>"Oh, another week, anyhow. I have a new theory, Ned."</p> + +<p>"What's that?"</p> + +<p>"Ocean currents. I believe there are powerful currents in these +waters, and that they may have shifted the position of the +Pandora considerably. I'm going to study the currents."</p> + +<p>"Good idea!" cried his chum.</p> + +<p>And the next day they began observations which were destined to +have surprising results.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chapterxxiii" id="chapterxxiii">CHAPTER XXIII</a></h2> + +<h3>AN UNDERSEA COLLISION</h3> + +<p>Under the warm, tropical sun the submarine floated idly on the +surface of the calm sea. She had risen from the depths, her +hatches had been opened, and now the crew, the owner, and his +guests were breathing free air. The men were taking advantage of +the period above water to wash out some of their garments, +hanging them on improvised lines stretched along the deck. For +Tom Swift had said he would remain above the surface all day.</p> + +<p>Some slight repairs were necessary to the electric motors, and +they could be made only when the craft was on the open sea. This, +too, would afford a chance to recharge the batteries and repair +one of them.</p> + +<p>For the time being the search under the sea for the treasure +ship Pandora had been abandoned. But it was not given up +entirely. As Tom had announced to Ned, a new theory would be +worked out. So far, cruising about in the place where the +fillibuster ship was supposed to have gone down had resulted in +nothing.</p> + +<p>Mr. Damon, who had been below, shaving, came up on deck to see +Tom and Ned tossing into the water large pieces of cork taken +from spare life preservers. Tom tossed his in from one side of +the deck, and Ned from the other. Then, as the eccentric man +listened, he heard Tom say:</p> + +<p>"I think mine is going to beat yours, Ned!"</p> + +<p>"Then you've got another guess coming," declared the young +financial man. "Mine's going twice as fast as yours is now, +though yours did start off better."</p> + +<p>"Bless my beefsteak!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, "what's this, Tom +Swift? I thought we came on a treasure-hunting expedition, and +here I find you and Ned playing some childish game! I hope you +aren't laying any wagers on it!" Mr. Damon did not approve of +gambling in any form.</p> + +<p>"No, we aren't doing that," laughed Tom, as he dropped another +bit of cork into the ocean.</p> + +<p>"We are trying to arrive at some valuable scientific facts, Mr. Damon."</p> + +<p>"Scientific facts—that childish play?"</p> + +<p>"It isn't play," said Tom, turning to remark to Ned: "I think +we've settled it. The current has a decided twist to the north."</p> + +<p>"Yes," agreed his chum. "You were right, Tom."</p> + +<p>"If you don't mind explaining," began Mr. Damon, "I should like +to know—"</p> + +<p>"We're trying to determine the drift of the ocean currents in +this locality," Tom said.</p> + +<p>"So we'll know better where to look for the Pandora," added +Ned.</p> + +<p>"Oh, so you haven't given up the hunt, then?" asked the +eccentric man.</p> + +<p>"By no means!" exclaimed Tom. "It's this way, Mr. Damon. We +went down at as nearly the exact spot where the treasure-ship was +sunk as we could determine by means of calculations. She wasn't +there, nor could we find her by going around in circles. Then it +occurred to me, and to some of the others also, including Ned, +that the ocean currents might have shifted the position of the +craft after she had sunk. There are powerful currents in the +ocean, as you know, the Gulf Stream being one and the Japan +Current another. Now there may be smaller ones in these waters +that would produce a local effect.</p> + +<p>"So Ned and I have been dropping bits of cork of different +shapes into the water and watching which way they drifted. Our +conclusion is that the currents here have a decided set toward +the north."</p> + +<p>"And what does that indicate?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"That we should have begun our search some distance north of +the point where we actually did begin," answered Tom.</p> + +<p>"How far north?" the eccentric man wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"That's just what we have yet to ascertain," the young inventor +replied. "So far our conclusions have been arrived at merely from +surface data. Now we've got to go below."</p> + +<p>"And play with bits of cork there?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"No, we'll have to use something heavier than cork," Tom said. +"We'll probably use weights, and see how far they move along the +bottom in a given time. But we have established one thing, and I +begin to have hopes now that we may locate the Pandora."</p> + +<p>The remainder of the day was spent in various ways aboard the +submarine, which continued to float idly on the waves.</p> + +<p>It was toward evening, when the red, setting sun gave promise +of a fair day on the morrow that the submarine's deck lookout +approached Tom, and, waiting until he had the attention of the +young inventor, reported:</p> + +<p>"There is a smudge of smoke dead astern, sir."</p> + +<p>"Is there?" exclaimed Tom. "Let me have the glasses."</p> + +<p>He took them from the lookout and made a long and careful study +of the slight, black smudge which was low down on the horizon.</p> + +<p>"A steamer," decided Tom, "and coming on fast. We'll go below!" +he added. "Please make ready," he said to the officer in charge.</p> + +<p>"What's up, Tom?" asked Ned, as his chum gathered up the papers +on which he had been figuring on an improvised table set under an +awning on deck.</p> + +<p>"Some craft is coming, and I'd just as soon she wouldn't sight +us," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"You mean she might interfere with our search for the treasure- +ship?"</p> + +<p>"Not exactly. But she might want to start a search on her own +account, and there's no use of giving our presence away, or +letting them guess at what might be right conclusions as to the +location of the Pandora."</p> + +<p>"But, Tom, no one knows of the wreck! At least, no one is +supposed to but our party and—"</p> + +<p>"Hardley. Exactly!" exclaimed Tom, as he saw his chum about to +utter the name.</p> + +<p>"And you think he is coming?"</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't be a bit surprised. Anyhow, it's just as easy for +us to submerge and let them do their own guessing. I was going +down soon, anyhow, and another hour won't make any difference. +Here, take a look, if you like."</p> + +<p>Ned peered through the glasses, but his eyes not being trained +in sea interpretation, as were Tom's, he could make out nothing +but a black smudge, now larger and darker.</p> + +<p>"It might be a cloud for all I can tell," he said, as he handed +the binoculars back to Tom.</p> + +<p>"Well, it's a steamer all right, and she's under forced draft, +too, if I'm any judge. We'll go below before she sights us."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps she has already," suggested Ned, as the crew began +clearing the submarine's deck.</p> + +<p>"No, we lie too low in the water for that. Well, now we can +start our underwater observations of current trends."</p> + +<p>It did not take long, once she started, for the M. N. 1 to go +down. Just as the sun sank below the horizon, and while the +smudge of smoke was becoming more distinct, the waves closed +over the steel deck of the submarine. Half an hour later she was +nearly a quarter of a mile below the surface, resting on the +bottom of the sea again.</p> + +<p>On this trip Tom did not go to any such depths as he did on his +former voyage in the Advance. Not that the reconstructed +submarine was not capable of it, for she was even stronger than +when first built. But the wreck they were seeking did not lie in +so great a depth of water, and there was no need of running +useless risks.</p> + +<p>"Well," remarked Ned, when they came to a stop, "I don't +believe any one will find us here."</p> + +<p>"Not an ordinary diver, at any rate," Tom agreed. "And after +supper I'm going to have another go at the currents."</p> + +<p>The meal was served as usual, and a very good one it was, +considering the fact that not as many supplies could be carried +in the rather limited space of a submarine as may be transported +in an ocean liner. Then, as it was still early, Tom and Ned, with +the help of some of the officers, got ready for a new series of +experiments.</p> + +<p>The big searchlight was set aglow, and, going out on the ocean +bed in diving suits, Tom and his friends dropped on the sand +various weighted objects.</p> + +<p>These were made in the shape of the hull of a steamer, and in +proportion. Once they were on the sand, an iron rod was thrust +into the ocean bed near each object.</p> + +<p>"Now," remarked Tom, as they all went into the submarine again, +"we'll let them drift until morning. Then we'll make new +calculations. I think we'll arrive at some results, too."</p> + +<p>"Just what are you aiming to do?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"See how far each one of those weighted objects drifts," Tom +replied. "We have planted them in different spots on the ocean +bed. Some will drift farther than others. Some are large and some +are small. By striking an average we may be able to tell about +how far from the supposed location of the Pandora we ought to +look for her."</p> + +<p>The night passed without incident and as calmly and peacefully +as though they were all in some deep cave beneath a great +mountain. In the morning after breakfast Tom and his friends went +outside the submarine again and noted the weighted objects. Some +had drifted farther than others. Measurements were carefully +taken, and then began a series of intricate calculations.</p> + +<p>The distance each object had drifted from the iron bar marker +was considered in reference to its size and shape. Also the +elapsed time was computed. The results were then compared, an +average struck, and then the size and weight of the Pandora, as +nearly as they could be ascertained, were figured. The resultant +figures were compared, and Tom announced:</p> + +<p>"If we are anywhere near right in our conclusions we ought to +begin to search for the treasure-ship about four miles from here, +in a general northerly direction."</p> + +<p>"Do you think she has drifted that far?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Fully that," Tom answered. "That is only our starting point—the +center of a new series of circles."</p> + +<p>A moment later Tom gave the order to rise to the surface.</p> + +<p>"Going up?" exclaimed Ned.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I want to make some observations to determine our exact +nautical position."</p> + +<p>"But suppose that other steam—"</p> + +<p>"We'll have to take a chance. We can submerge quickly if we +have to, and I don't believe she's able to do that."</p> + +<p>An observation was taken through the conning tower, however, +before the M. N. 1 went all the way up, and there was not a sail +nor a smudge of smoke on the horizon.</p> + +<p>"So far so good," murmured Tom. "Now we'll 'shoot the sun,' and +after we submerge we'll begin our search in earnest. I think we +are on the right track now."</p> + +<p>The observation was made at noon, and then, as nearly as +possible, the submarine was moved to a position approximately +four miles north of the place where the Pandora was supposed to +have foundered.</p> + +<p>"Down we go!" exclaimed Tom, and down they went.</p> + +<p>The depth gauge showed more than a thousand feet below the +surface when the M. N. 1 came to rest. This was deeper than Tom +had thought to find the wreck, but his craft was able to +withstand the pressure. A brief wait, to make sure that +everything was in readiness, was followed by the beginning of the +new search. In gradually widening circles the craft moved about +under water.</p> + +<p>If the voyagers had expected to locate at once the treasure- +ship, they would have been disappointed. For the first day gave +no signs. But Tom had not promised immediate results, and no one +gave up hope.</p> + +<p>It was shortly after noon on the second day of the search at +the new location that, as they were proceeding at rather greater +speed than usual, something happened.</p> + +<p>Ned had just suggested that he and Tom might go out and try the +current-setting experiments again, when suddenly they were both +thrown off their feet by a terrific jar and concussion. The M. N. +1 seemed to reel back, as if from a great blow.</p> + +<p>"Bless my safety razor!" cried Mr. Damon, "what's the matter, +Tom?"</p> + +<p>"I think we've had a collision!" was the answer. "I must see +how badly we are damaged!"</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chapterxxiv" id="chapterxxiv">CHAPTER XXIV</a></h2> + +<h3>THE TREASURE-SHIP</h3> + +<p>Sudden and forceful had been the underwater collision in which +the M. N. 1 had participated. Either the lookout, aided though he +was by the focused rays of the great searchlight, had failed to +notice some obstruction in time to signal to avoid it, or there +was an error somewhere else. At any rate the submarine had rammed +something—what it was remained to be discovered.</p> + +<p>"Bless my shotgun," cried Mr. Damon, "perhaps it was one of +those big whales, Ned!"</p> + +<p>"It didn't feel like a whale," answered the young financial +man.</p> + +<p>"And it wasn't!" declared Tom, who was hastening to the engine +room. "It was too solid for that."</p> + +<p>Following the collision there had been considerable confusion +aboard the vessel. But discipline prevailed, and now it was +necessary to determine the extent of the damage. This, Tom and +his officers and crew proceeded to do.</p> + +<p>There were automatic devices in the various control cabins, as +well as in the main engine room, which told instantly if a leak +had been sprung in any part of the craft. In that serious +difficulty automatic pumps, controlled by an electrical device, +at once began forcing out the water. Other apparatus rushed a +supply of compressed air to the flooded compartment in order to +hold out the water if possible. For further security the +submarine was divided into different compartments, as are most +ships in these days. The puncturing or flooding of one did not +necessarily mean the foundering of the craft, or, in the case of +a submarine, prevent her rising.</p> + +<p>But Tom had sensed that the collision was almost a head-on one, +and in that case it was likely that the plates might have started +in several sections at once. This he wanted to discover, and take +means of safety accordingly.</p> + +<p>"How do you make it, Mr. Nelson?" cried the young inventor to +the captain in the engine room.</p> + +<p>"Only a slight leak in compartment B 2," he answered, as Tom's +eyes rapidly scanned the tell-tale gauges. "The pumps and air are +taking care of that."</p> + +<p>"Good!" cried Tom. "It doesn't seem possible that there isn't +more than that, though. We struck a terrible blow."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but a glancing one, I think, sir."</p> + +<p>"Send for the lookout," ordered Tom. "I can't under stand why +he didn't see whatever we've hit in time to avoid it."</p> + +<p>The lookout came in, very much frightened, it must be admitted. +Only by a narrow margin had all escaped death.</p> + +<p>"It was impossible to see it, Mr. Swift," he said. "We had a +clear course, not a thing in sight. The bottom was white sand, +and I could almost count the fishes. All at once there was a big +swirl of water that threw our nose around, and before I could +signal to slow down or reverse we were right into her."</p> + +<p>"Into what?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Some sort of wreck, I took it to be. I shoved the wheel hard +over as quickly as I could, and we struck only a glancing blow."</p> + +<p>"That's good," murmured Tom. "I thought that must have been the +explanation. But what's that about a sudden swirl of water?"</p> + +<p>"It seemed to me like a change in the current," the lookout +answered. "It threw us right over against the wreck."</p> + +<p>"I can very easily imagine something like that happening," +admitted Tom. "Well, as long as we're not badly damaged I think +we'll go outside and take a look. If we hit a wreck—"</p> + +<p>"Bless my looking glass!" cried Mr. Damon, "it may be the +Pandora, Tom."</p> + +<p>"That's too good to be true!" cried Ned. "Anyhow, let's get out +and take a look."</p> + +<p>Tom first made sure that the slight leak was not likely to +increase, and then arrangements were made for himself, Ned, Koku, +and some of the others to go outside in the diving suits. Mr. +Damon wanted to be of the party, but Tom was afraid to permit him +in that depth of water. Mr. Damon, in spite of his jollity, was +not as young as he had been.</p> + +<p>Shortly after the collision, which had missed being a disaster +by a narrow margin, Tom and his companions were outside the +submarine, walking on the white, sandy bottom of the sea. Around +them was a myriad of fishes, some of large size, but seemingly +harmless, as they scudded rapidly away after a glance at the +strange creatures who appeared to have come to dispute with them +for possession of Father Neptune's element.</p> + +<p>Moving more slowly than usual, because of the greater pressure +of water at that depth, Tom and the others made their way around +the nose of the submarine. And then, in the glow of the big +searchlight, they saw the dim outlines of a steamer, partly +imbedded in the sand. Her stern was toward the undersea craft +that had rammed her, and the name was not so obliterated but what +the young inventor could read it.</p> + +<p>"The Pandora!" exclaimed Tom, speaking into his helmet +telephone transmitter, the others all hearing him. "We've found +the treasure-ship at last!"</p> + +<p>And so they had. An accident had brought them to the end of +their quest, though it is probable they would have found the +Pandora anyhow, since they were making careful circles in her +vicinity.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's the Pandora," said Ned. "And now the thing to do +is to find out if she really has any treasure on board."</p> + +<p>"That's what I'm going to do," declared Tom. "But first I want +to investigate this queer current. We can't feel it here, but we +may if we get out beyond the wreck. We don't want to be swept off +our feet."</p> + +<p>"Yes, we had better be careful," said one of the officers.</p> + +<p>Accordingly they proceeded with caution along the length of the +sunken Pandora. And as they neared her bow they all began to feel +some powerful force in the current.</p> + +<p>"This is far enough!" said Tom. "Don't get out beyond the +protection of the hull. I see what it is. The steamer has drifted +here from where she was originally sunk. And here two currents +meet, forming a very strong one. It was that which threw us off +our course. As long as we remain behind the wreck we'll be safe. +But beyond her we may be in danger. She's firmly held in the +sand, or, at best, is drifting only slightly. She'll be a sort of +undersea breakwater for us. And now to see if we can get on +board!"</p> + +<p>This proved comparatively easy. Several lengths of chain and +one iron ladder were over the stern, evidently having been used +when the crew abandoned the ship in the storm that destroyed her. +By means of these Tom and his companions gained the main deck +near the stern.</p> + +<p>The Pandora was a typical tramp steamer. She was high in the +bows and stern and low amidships, and it was evident that the +quarters of the officers and passengers, if any of the latter +were carried, were in the stern. Tom was glad to find the vessel +thus comparatively easy of access.</p> + +<p>She lay on an almost even keel, and all he and his companions +had to do was to walk along the deck and enter the cabins. As +they did not have to look out for life lines or air hose they +could enter, and even go below decks, in comparative safety.</p> + +<p>"Well, here's for it," said Tom to the others. "Let's go in.</p> + +<p>"Where would the treasure be, if she had any?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Captain's cabin or the purser's strong room, I imagine," Tom +answered. "Hardley didn't actually see it, but he said those two +places were constantly guarded. I'm inclined to think the purser +would have charge of the gold. But we'll try both places."</p> + +<p>It was easy to learn which had been the commander's cabin. It +had the name "Captain" on a brass plate over the door. Tom and +Ned entered. The place was in confusion, and confusion not all +caused by the ocean currents. A small safe in the room stood with +rusted door open, and the contents of the strong box were gone. +Drawers and lockers, too, were opened and empty.</p> + +<p>"I guess the captain took as much with him as he could when he +got into his boat," commented Tom.</p> + +<p>"And the gold, too," added Ned, pointing to the empty safe.</p> + +<p>"That wouldn't have held two million dollars in gold," Tom +retorted. "I believe the purser's cabin is the place to look."</p> + +<p>Making sure they were not missing anything in the captain's +room, they came out, to find Koku and the others waiting for them +on deck.</p> + +<p>"Nothing there," Tom reported. "Did any of you locate the +purser's strong room?" One of the men pointed to an open door to +the left.</p> + +<p>"That's it!" exclaimed Tom. "Yes, and there's a safe here big +enough to hold gold for all the revolutions in South America," he +added. "I guess we're on the right track at last."</p> + +<p>It needed but a look to show them that they had at last reached +the place of the treasure. The great safe stood open, and piled +inside were a number of small boxes, such as are generally used +to ship gold in. Ned, from his bank experience, recognized them +at once.</p> + +<p>"There's the gold!" he exclaimed. "We've found the treasure!"</p> + +<p>"They tried to take some of it with them," said one of the +submarine officers, pointing to some opened boxes which were +floating near the cabin ceiling. They were caught on some +projections which had prevented them from being washed out.</p> + +<p>"Maybe they looted the whole safe," suggested Tom. "We'd better +have a look."</p> + +<p>He tried to pull out one of the many boxes set in tiers in the +safe, but it was beyond his strength.</p> + +<p>"Me do!" murmured Koku.</p> + +<p>It was easy for the giant to pry out one of the boxes with his +iron bar, and with another blow from his bar he opened the cover.</p> + +<p>"Gold!" cried Ned, as he saw a gleam of yellow showing in the +glow from his torch. "There's the gold!"</p> + +<p>There was a table in the purser's cabin, made fast to the floor +so it had not floated away. At a sign from Tom, the giant turned +the box bottom side up on this table.</p> + +<p>And then a murmur of wonder came from all who saw the result. +For aside from the top layer of gold pieces, the box was filled +with iron disks cut to the size of twenty-dollar gold pieces. In +an instant it was borne to all what this meant.</p> + +<p>"A fake!" exclaimed Tom Swift. "If all the boxes are like this +there isn't enough gold on the treasure ship to pay the expenses +of this trip! Somebody has been fooled! Open another box, Koku!"</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chapterxxv" id="chapterxxv">CHAPTER XXV</a></h2> + +<h3>THE STEEL BOX</h3> + +<p>Perhaps the least of all affected by what had taken place was +the giant. Gold meant nothing to him. To serve Tom Swift was his +whole aim in life. Born in a savage country, he had not acquired +an overwhelming desire for wealth.</p> + +<p>Consequently he was cool enough as he tore another box from the +many that were fitted into the safe. The water had swelled the +wood, and it was not easy to get them out.</p> + +<p>A pressure of the giant's iron bar broke the sealed lid. On top +was the same layer of gold pieces, but when the box was emptied +the same trick was discovered. Iron disks made up the remainder +of the contents.</p> + +<p>"Bilked! That's what I call it! Regularly bilked!" exclaimed +one of the divers, an Englishman who had been in Tom's service +several years. "Somebody's got the cream of this pudding before +we did!"</p> + +<p>"I'm inclined to agree with you," said Tom. "Unless it +transpires that not all the boxes have been thus camouflaged. We +must take time to examine."</p> + +<p>Then began a period of hard work. Laboring in relays of divers, +every box that had been locked in the purser's safe was brought +out on the submerged cabin table, broken open, and the contents +examined. The hoax was even worse than indicated at first. For +after the front section of boxes had been taken out none of the +others remaining contained any gold at all. There were only iron +disks.</p> + +<p>"Well, Tom, what do you think of it?" asked Ned of his chum, +when they had returned to the cabin of the submarine, leaving +some members of the crew to complete the examination. For this +the diving bell was used, as well as the suits.</p> + +<p>"I don't think very much," was the answer. "It looks as though +we had been sold."</p> + +<p>"Do you think Hardley knew that the gold had been changed to +iron—that is, all but a small part of it?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't believe he did," Tom answered. "If he were here +I'd warrant he would be as much surprised as we are. He certainly +believed the Pandora was a regular treasure-ship."</p> + +<p>"Just how much did she really have in gold?" asked Mr. Damon, +looking at the double eagles on the table of the M. N. 1.</p> + +<p>"Well, at a rough guess I'd say ten thousand dollars," Tom +answered. "We haven't brought it all out yet, and it's possible +they may find a full box in the safe. But, unless there is one, I +guess ten or fifteen thousand dollars will cover it."</p> + +<p>"And Hardley said two millions!" exclaimed Ned. "Whew, what a +difference!"</p> + +<p>"Do you think he was in on the change?" asked one of the +officers.</p> + +<p>"No," replied Tom. "I guess it was like a good many of these +filibustering plots. Somebody put up good money to be used to +gain control of a country—perhaps for the country's good. But +somebody else made the substitution, and the patriots were left. +I don't believe Hardley knew this."</p> + +<p>"Well, you'll get a little out of it, Tom," Ned remarked.</p> + +<p>"Nothing worth while," was the answer. "But I'm not +disappointed; that is, very much. Of course I could use the +money, but I don't really need it. The trip has been a wonderful +experience, and I have learned something I didn't know before. +I'm sorry for you, though, Mr. Damon. You invested considerable +with Hardley, didn't you?"</p> + +<p>"About twenty thousand dollars, Tom. It will be hard to lose +it, but I guess I can stand it."</p> + +<p>Tom privately made up his mind to see that his old friend did +not suffer financially, for the gold discovered on the Pandora, +while it was far from the amount hoped for, would almost +reimburse Mr. Damon. But the young inventor did not say anything +about that just then.</p> + +<p>They were looking at the recovered gold and getting ready to +store it in some of the boxes that had been brought from the +wreck when the divers that had remained on the Pandora to bring +the last of the treasure returned through the chamber. Two of +them carried a small steel box.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" asked Tom, when they had their helmets off.</p> + +<p>"Don't know," was the answer. "It was in the purser's safe. +Stuck away in the far corner."</p> + +<p>"Maybe it has jewels in it!" exclaimed Ned. "If it has—"</p> + +<p>At that moment the lookout who had maintained his position in +the conning tower called for Tom on the telephone.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked the young inventor.</p> + +<p>"There's some sort of grappling iron, or cable with a hook on +it, being lowered from the surface, and it's near the wreck," was +the answer. "If it isn't any of your apparatus it may be some +other ship having a try for the gold."</p> + +<p>"It must be Hardley!" cried Tom. "He's come back with another +ship, as he half threatened to do, and, instead of diving for the +wreck, which he can't get ordinary men to do in this depth, he's +trying to grapple for it. Come on, we'll have a look!"</p> + +<p>Ned and Mr. Damon followed Tom to the conning tower. Looking +out through the heavy glass windows, while the searchlight +illuminated the waters, the young inventor and his friends saw a +great grappling iron swaying this way and that through the sea +not far from the wreck, and once, indeed, uncomfortably close to +their own craft.</p> + +<p>"He's struck it uncommonly near," remarked Tom. "I guess it's +time for us to be leaving."</p> + +<p>"Suppose it's Hardley up above there?" suggested Ned.</p> + +<p>"I don't doubt but it is."</p> + +<p>"Well, are we going off and leave the wreck—and possibly other +gold that may be hidden on her?"</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't give ten dollars for the chance of searching for +any more gold!" Tom exclaimed. "We'll take this steel box—it may +contain something of value. The rest we'll leave to Hardley."</p> + +<p>Preparations for rising to the surface were quickly made. Up +and up went the M. N. 1, leaving the ill-starred Pandora to +whatever else fate had in store for her.</p> + +<p>Tom's craft broke water with gentle undulations of the waves. +The top of the hatch was thrown back, admitting the bright +sunshine on those who had been long in the shadow of the +underseas. And, as the young inventor and his friends went out on +deck, they saw a small steamer riding on the ocean not far away.</p> + +<p>One look was enough to tell them it was from this craft that +the grappling iron had been let down, and as the submarine +drifted nearer the form of Hardley was seen on deck. He was +directing operations.</p> + +<p>Some one must have called his attention to the M. N. 1, for he +hurried to the rail of the craft which he had evidently chartered +to seek the Pandora, and he exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"What are you doing here, Swift?"</p> + +<p>"The same thing you are, I believe," coolly answered Tom. +"Cleaning up the treasure ship. You might as well save your money +though, for we have all the gold there is!"</p> + +<p>"Impossible!" cried the now irate man. "You cannot have found +the Pandora!"</p> + +<p>"That's just what we did, though," answered Tom. "And, for your +information, I'll say that we took all the gold we found, though +it was considerably less than you stated."</p> + +<p>"How dare you?" stormed the adventurer. "I'll have the law on +you for this!"</p> + +<p>"I guess you forget," replied Tom, "that we parted company at +your request and that I told you I was on my own. Finding is +keeping. I didn't find what I expected to, and, on the other +hand, I got something I didn't look for."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean</p> + +<p>"The Pandora was rightly named," went on Tom. "If you recall +the old story, Pandora had a box of treasures. They all flew out +except Hope, which remained in the bottom. Well, most of the gold +seems to have flown away, but we found a box on the Pandora. +What's in it I don't know yet, as I haven't opened it. Still, if +it doesn't contain more than Hope I shall be disappointed."</p> + +<p>The face of Hardley showed the rage felt.</p> + +<p>"Give me that box! Give me that box!" he cried, shaking his +fist at Tom.</p> + +<p>"Not today," was the cool answer of the young inventor. "I may +let you know what I find in it if you leave your address. +Goodbye!"</p> + +<p>Tom waved his hand, gave orders to close the hatches and +submerge the M. N. 1, and a few moments later the sea closed over +her, leaving the other vessel to grapple uselessly for the +treasure-ship.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do, Tom?" asked Ned of his chum, as they +were all gathered in the main cabin half an hour later.</p> + +<p>"Head for home as soon as we can. I've had enough of this, and +I want to get at something else I have in mind. But first I'm +going to see what's in this box."</p> + +<p>It required the strength of Koku to open the small steel box, +but when it was torn apart, for the combination was impossible to +guess at, all that was seen were bundles of papers. The case +having been hermetically closed, no water had penetrated it, +though it had been submerged a long time.</p> + +<p>"What are they?" asked Ned of his chum.</p> + +<p>Tom did not answer for a moment. Then having quickly examined +the papers, he cried:</p> + +<p>"We've struck it!"</p> + +<p>"What?" they all wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"The very thing Hardley was after. These are the missing papers +in the oil-well deal—the papers that prove Barton Keith has a +half share in property worth many millions of dollars. It was +these papers that Hardley was after. He may have thought he could +get the gold, too, but he wanted most these oil shares. Boys, +we've found the fortune anyhow, in spite of the fellows who +looted the gold boxes!"</p> + +<p>There was no doubt about it. There were all the papers—the +certificates of shares, the partnership agreement and other +documents—to show that Mary's uncle was a rich man. The wreck of +the Pandora held a fortune after all.</p> + +<p>"How do you account for Hardleys acts?" asked Ned of his chum.</p> + +<p>"Well, there are several explanations. I think we may be +certain that he knew these papers were aboard the Pandora, for he +must have intrusted them to the purser himself when he made a +trip on the ship. When she sank he had not time to get them to +take with him."</p> + +<p>"He either knew then, or found out later, that the vessel +carried, or was supposed to carry, a large amount of gold. He may +have been honestly mistaken in thinking it was two millions. In +any case he was playing safe, for he only promised me half if the +treasure was found. He could have claimed this box as his +property, and that is probably what he was after from the +beginning. He was using me as a cat's paw, so to speak."</p> + +<p>"Well, you beat him to it," observed Ned.</p> + +<p>"Bless my necktie, I should say so!" agreed Mr. Damon. "Do you +think he really expected to find the gold?"</p> + +<p>"Either that or the papers," was Tom's answer. "He must have +engaged the vessel and the grappling apparatus, and, possibly, a +diver, after we set him ashore at St. Thomas. Well, we'll leave +him to his own fun."</p> + +<p>The M. N. 1 made good time back to her home port, nothing +except a terrific storm occurring to mark the voyage. And as she +submerged when that was on she did not feel it. After greeting +his father, Tom lost little time in going to Mary's house with +the box of securities and other papers.</p> + +<p>"I want you to hand these to your uncle with my compliments," +he said. "I've got the Air Scout out in the meadow. We'll go over +in that. How is Mr. Keith?"</p> + +<p>"Not very well," Mary answered, after she had got over her +surprise at seeing Tom. "But this good news will restore him, I +think."</p> + +<p>And it certainly was a great tonic. Mr. Keith could hardly +believe the story that Mary and Tom jointly told him. But at +length he grasped the idea that he was a wealthy man again, and +he exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Tom Swift, I'm going to share half with you!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," retorted the young inventor. "I couldn't think of +that. If you want to pay part of the expenses of the trip I +shan't object to that, as I intend giving the gold I recovered to +Mr. Damon. But as for taking any of the oil shares—"</p> + +<p>"Then, Mary, you shall take half!" exclaimed Mr. Keith. "I have +more money now than I'll ever spend. Mary, half of it is yours, +and if you don't let Tom Swift have a say in the spending of it— +Say, Mary, have you thanked him yet?" he asked with a twinkle of +his eyes. "Well, Uncle Barton, I—I don't know—"</p> + +<p>"Then do it now!" cried her uncle. "Tom, if you could have any +reward you wanted, what would it be?"</p> + +<p>Tom took Mary in his arms and—But I refuse to betray any +secrets. Anyhow, some time later when Ned asked his chum if he +felt entirely satisfied with the result of his undersea search, +the young inventor replied: "I certainly do!"</p> + +<p>Tom admitted to his father that a mistake had been made in not +installing the gyroscope rudder. There was no excuse for not +taking it. Tom declared, as it was small and took up little room, +and it might have saved them from what was a close call at one +time.</p> + +<p>"I'll take it on my next submarine trip," the young inventor +promised.</p> + +<p>Ned wanted to bring suit against Hardley to recover half the +expenses of the trip, but Tom would not consent to it. After all, +the value of the oil well property was more than the gold the +Pandora was reputed to have carried. No attempt was made to take +from Tom the comparatively small amount he had salvaged. Perhaps +whoever had put it on board did not want to admit the trick that +had been played in filling the boxes with iron disks.</p> + +<p>Dixwell Hardley made no further trouble. He could not, for he +was so entirely in the wrong. He sold out his shares in the oil +property, and a company took possession which gave fair treatment +to Mary's uncle.</p> + +<p>And this is the end of the story. But the future holds further +adventures for Tom Swift which, let it be hoped, he will see fit +to order recorded.</p> + +<br /> + +</div> + +<pre> +End of Project Gutenberg's Etext of Tom Swift And His Undersea Search +</pre> + +</body> +</html> |