第29章
When the Advance reached the secluded creek where she had been launched, her passengers had fully recovered from their terrible experience, though the nerves of Mr.Swift and Mr.Damon were not at ease for some days thereafter.
"I should never have made a submerged test without making sure that we had a reserve supply of air," remarked the aged inventor."I will not be caught that way again.But I can't understand how the pump valve got out of order.""Maybe some one tampered with it," suggested Mr.Damon."Could Andy Foger, any of the Happy Harry gang, or the rival gold-seekers have done it?""I hardly think so," answered Tom."The place has been too carefully guarded since Berg and Andy once sneaked in.I think it was just an accident, but I have thought of a plan whereby such accidents can be avoided in the future.It needs a simple device.""Better patent it," suggested Mr.Sharp with a smile.
"Maybe I will," replied the young inventor."But not now.We haven't time, if we intend to get fitted out for our trip.""No; I should say the sooner we started the better," remarked Captain Weston."That is, if you don't mind me speaking about it," he added gently, and the others smiled, for his diffident comments were only a matter of habitThe first act of the adventurers, after tying the submarine at the dock, was to proceed with the loading of the food and supplies.Tom and Mr.Damon looked to this, while Mr.Swift and Mr.Sharp made some necessary changes to the machinery.The next day the young inventor attached his device to the pump valve, and the loading of the craft was continued.
All was in readiness for the gold-seeking expedition a week later.Captain Weston had carefully charted the route they were to follow, and it was decided to move along on the surface for the first day, so as to get well out to sea before submerging the craft.Then it would sink below the surface, and run along under the water until the wreck was reached, risingat times, as needed, to renew the air supply.
With sufficient stores and provisions aboard to last several months, if necessary, though they did not expect to be gone more than sixty days at most, the adventurers arose early one morning and went down to the dock.Mr.Jackson was not to accompany them.He did not care about a submarine trip, he said, and Mr.Swift desired him to remain at the seaside cottage and guard the shops, which contained much valuable machinery.The airship was also left there."Well, are we all ready?" asked Mr.Swift of the little party of gold-seekers, as they were about to enter the conning tower hatchway of the submarine.
"All ready, dad," responded his son.
"Then let's get aboard," proposed Captain Weston."But first let me take an observation."He swept the horizon with his telescope, and Tom noticed that the sailor kept it fixed on one particular spot for some time.
"Did you see anything?" asked the lad.
"Well, there is a boat lying off there," was the answer."And some one is observing us through a glass.But I don't believe it matters.Probably they're only trying to see what sort of an odd fish we are.""All aboard, then," ordered Mr.Swift, and they went into the submarine.Tom and his father, with Captain Weston, remained in the conning tower.The signal was given, the electricity flowed into the forward and aft plates, and the Advance shot ahead on the surface.
The sailor raised his telescope once more and peered through a window in the tower.He uttered an exclamation.
"What's the matter?" asked Tom.
"That other ship--a small steamer--is weighing anchor and seems to be heading this way," was the reply.
"Maybe it's some one hired by Berg to follow us and trace our movements," suggested Tom.
"If it is we'll fool them," added his father."Just keep an eye on them, captain, and I think we can show them a trick or two in a few minutes."Faster shot the Advance through the water.She had started on her way to get the gold from the sunken wreck, but already enemies were on thetrail of the adventurers, for the ship the sailor had noticed was steaming after them.