第38章

"Here they come!" cried Captain Weston."They're going to ram us again!""Then I'm going to fire on them!" declared Tom savagely.

On came the Wonder, nearer and nearer.Her speed was rapidly increasing.Suddenly she bumped the Advance, and then, as if it was an unavoidable accident, the rear submarine sheered off to one side.

"They're certainly at it again!" cried Tom, and peering from the bull's- eye he saw the Wonder shoot past the mouth of the electric cannon."Here it goes!" he added.

He shoved over the lever, making the proper connection.There was no corresponding report, for the cannon was noiseless, but there was a slight jar as the projectile left the muzzle.The Wonder could be seen to heel over.

"You hit her! You hit her!" cried Captain Weston."A good shot!""I was afraid she was past me when I pulled the lever," explained Tom."She went like a flash.""No, you caught her on the rudder," declared the captain."I think you've put her out of business.Yes, they're rising to the surface."The lad rapidly inserted another ball, and recharged the cannon.Then he peered out into the water, illuminated by the light of day overhead, as they were not far down.He could see the Wonder rising to the surface.Clearly something had happened.

"Maybe they're going to drop down on us from above, and try to sink us," suggested the youth, while he stood ready to fire again."If they do--"His words were interrupted by a slight jar throughout the submarine."What was that?" cried the captain.

"Dad fired the bow gun at them, but I don't believe he hit them," answered the young inventor.

"I wonder what damage I did? Guess we'll go to the surface to find out."Clearly the Wonder had given up the fight for the time being.In fact, she had no weapon with which to respond to a fusillade from her rival.Tom hastened forward and informed his father of what had happened.

"If her steering gear is out of order, we may have a chance to slip away," said Mr.Swift "We'll go up and see what we can learn."A few minutes later Tom, his father and Captain Weston stepped fromthe conning tower, which was out of water, on to the little flat deck a short distance away lay the Wonder, and on her deck was Berg and a number of men, evidently members of the crew.

"Why did you fire on us?" shouted the agent angrily."Why did you follow us?" retorted Torn.

"Well, you've broken our rudder and disabled us," went on Berg, not answering the question."You'll suffer for this! I'll have you arrested.""You only got what you deserved," added Mr.Swift."You were acting illegally, following us, and you tried to sink us by ramming my craft before we retaliated by firing on you.""It was an accident, ramming you," said Berg."We couldn't help it.I now demand that you help us make repairs.""Well, you've got nerve!" cried Captain Weston, his eyes flashing."I'd like to have a personal interview with you for about ten minutes.Maybe something besides your ship would need repairs then."Berg turned away, scowling, but did not reply.He began directing the crew what to do about the broken rudder.

"Come on," proposed Tom in a low voice, for sounds carry very easily over water."Let's go below and skip out while we have a chance.They can't follow now, and we can get to the sunken treasure ahead of them.""Good advice," commented his father."Come, Captain Weston, we'll go below and close the conning tower."Five minutes later the Advance sank from sight, the last glimpse Tom had of Berg and his men being a sight of them standing on the deck of their floating boat, gazing in the direction of their successful rival.The Wonder was left behind, while Tom and his friends were soon once more speeding toward the treasure wreck.