Chapter Ten
Trial of the Submarine
Tom felt such a relief at hearing of Captain Weston's ruse that hisappetite, sharpened by an early breakfast and the sea air, came to himwith a rush, and he had a second morning meal with the odd sea captain,who chuckled heartily when he thought of how Mr Berg had been deceived.
"Yes," resumed Captain Weston, over his bacon and eggs, "I sized him upfor a slick article as soon as I laid eyes on him. But he evidentlymisjudged me, if I may be permitted that term. Oh, well, we may meetagain, after we secure the treasure, and then I can show him the realmap of the location of the wreck."
"Then you have it?" inquired the lad eagerly.
Captain Weston nodded, before hiding his face behind a large cup ofcoffee; his third, by the way.
"Let me see it?" asked Tom quickly. The captain set down his cup. Helooked carefully about the hotel dining-room. There were severalguests, who, like himself, were having a late breakfast.
"It's a good plan," the sailor said slowly, "when you're going intounknown waters, and don't want to leave a wake for the other fellow tofollow, to keep your charts locked up. If it's all the same to you," headded diffidently, "I'd rather wait until we get to where your fatherand Mr. Sharp are before displaying the real map. I've no objection toshowing you the one Mr. Berg saw," and again he chuckled.
The young inventor blushed at his indiscretion. He felt that the newsof the search for the treasure had leaked out through him, though hewas the one to get on the trail of it by seeing the article in thepaper. Now he had nearly been guilty of another break. He realized thathe must be more cautious. The captain saw his confusion, and said:
"I know how it is. You're eager to get under way. I don't blame you. Iwas the same myself when I was your age. But we'll soon be at yourplace, and then I'll tell you all I know. Sufficient now, to say that Ibelieve I have located the wreck within a few miles. I got on the trackof a sailor who had met one of the shipwrecked crew of the Boldero, andhe gave me valuable information. Now tell me about the craft we aregoing in. A good deal depends on that."
Tom hardly knew what to answer. He recalled what Mr. Sharp had saidabout not wanting to tell Captain Weston, until the last moment, thatthey were going in a submarine, for fear the old seaman (for he was oldin point of service though not in years) might not care to risk anunder-water trip. Therefore Tom hesitated. Seeing it, Captain Westonremarked quietly:
"I mean, what type is your submarine? Does it go by compressed air, orwater power?"
"How do you know it's a submarine?" asked the young inventor quickly,and in some confusion.
"Easy enough. When Mr. Berg thought he was pumping me, I was getting alot of information from him. He told me about the submarine his firmwas building, and, naturally, he mentioned yours. One thing led toanother until I got a pretty good idea of your craft. What do you callit?"
"The Advance."
"Good name. I like it, if you don't mind speaking of it."
"We were afraid you wouldn't like it," commented Tom.
"What, the name?"
"No, the idea of going in a submarine."
"Oh," and Captain Weston laughed. "Well, it takes more than that tofrighten me, if you'll excuse the expression. I've always had ahankering to go under the surface, after so many years spent on top.Once or twice I came near going under, whether I wanted to or not, inwrecks, but I think I prefer your way. Now, if you're all done, anddon't mind me speaking of it, I think we'll start for your place. Wemust hustle, for Berg may yet get on our trail, even if he has got thewrong route," and he laughed again.
It was no small relief to Mr Swift and Mr. Sharp to learn that CaptainWeston had no objections to a submarine, as they feared he might have.The captain, in his diffident manner, made friends at once with thetreasure-hunters, and he and Mr. Damon struck up quite an acquaintance.Tom told of his meeting with the seaman, and the latter related, withmuch gusto, the story of how he had fooled Mr. Berg.
"Well, perhaps you'd like to come and take a look at the craft that isto be our home while we're beneath the water," suggested Mr. Swift andthe sailor assenting, the aged inventor, with much pride, assisted byTom, pointed out on the Advance the features of interest. CaptainWeston gave hearty approval, making one or two minor suggestions, whichwere carried out.
"And so you launch her to-morrow," he concluded, when he had completedthe inspection "Well, I hope it's a success, if I may be permitted tosay so."
There were busy times around the machine shop next day. So much secrecyhad been maintained that none of the residents, or visitors to thecoast resort, were aware that in their midst was such a wonderful craftas the submarine. The last touches were put on the under-water ship;the ways, leading from the shop to the creek, were well greased, andall was in readiness for the launching. The tide would soon be atflood, and then the boat would slide down the timbers (at least, thatwas the hope of all), and would float in the element meant to receiveher. It was decided that no one should be aboard when the launchingtook place, as there was an element of risk attached, since it was notknown just how buoyant the craft was. It was expected she would float,until the filled tanks took her to the bottom, but there was no telling.
"It will be flood tide now in ten minutes," remarked Captain Westonquietly, looking at his watch. Then he took an observation through thetelescope. "No hostile ships hanging in the offing," he reported. "Allis favorable, if you don't mind me saying so," and he seemed afraidlest his remark might give offense.
"Get ready," ordered Mr. Swift. "Tom, see that the ropes are allclear," for it had been decided to ease the Advance down into the waterby means of strong cables and windlasses, as the creek was so narrowthat the submarine, if launched in the usual way, would poke her noseinto the opposite mud bank and stick there.
"All clear," reported the young inventor.
"High tide!" exclaimed the captain a moment later, snapping shut hiswatch.
"Let go!" ordered Mr. Swift, and the various windlasses manned by theinventor, Tom and the others began to unwind their ropes. Slowly theship slid along the greased ways. Slowly she approached the water. Howanxiously they all watched her! Nearer and nearer her blunt nose, withthe electric propulsion plate and the auxiliary propeller, came to thecreek, the waters of which were quiet now, awaiting the turn of thetide.
Now little waves lapped the steel sides. It was the first contact ofthe Advance with her native element.
"Pay out the rope faster!" cried Mr. Swift.
The windlasses were turned more quickly. Foot by foot the craft slidalong until, with a final rush, the stern left the ways and thesubmarine was afloat. Now would come the test. Would she ride on aneven keel, or sink out of sight, or turn turtle? They all ran to thewater's edge, Tom in the lead.
"Hurrah!" suddenly yelled the lad, trying to stand on his head. "Shefloats! She's a success! Come on! Let's get aboard!"
For, true enough, the Advance was riding like a duck on the water. Shehad been proportioned just right, and her lines were perfect. She rodeas majestically as did any ship destined to sail on the surface, andnot intended to do double duty.
"Come on, we must moor her to the pier," directed Mr. Sharp. "The tidewill turn in a few minutes and take her out to sea."
He and Tom entered a small boat, and soon the submarine was tied to asmall dock that had been built for the purpose.
"Now to try the engine," suggested Mr. Swift, who was almost tremblingwith eagerness; for the completion of the ship meant much to him.
"One moment," begged Captain Weston. "If you don't mind, I'll take anobservation," he went on, and he swept the horizon with his telescope."All clear," he reported. "I think we may go aboard and make a trialtrip."
Little time was lost in entering the cabin and engine-room, GarretJackson accompanying the party to aid with the machinery. It did nottake long to start the motors, dynamos and the big gasolene engine thatwas the vital part of the craft. A little water was admitted to thetanks for ballast,
since the food and other supplies were not yet onboard. The Advance now floated with the deck aft of the conning towershowing about two feet above the surface of the creek. Mr. Swift andTom entered the pilot house.
"Start the engines," ordered the aged inventor, "and we'll try my newsystem of positive and negative electrical propulsion."
There was a hum and whir in the body of the ship beneath the feet ofTom and his father. Captain Weston stood on the little deck near theconning tower.
"All ready?" asked the youth through the speaking tube to Mr. Sharp andMr. Jackson in the engine-room.
"All ready," came the answer.
Tom threw over the connecting lever, while his father grasped thesteering wheel. The Advance shot forward, moving swiftly along, abouthalf submerged.
"She goes! She goes!" cried Tom.
"She certainly does, if I may be permitted to say so," was the calmcontribution of Captain Weston. "I congratulate you."
Faster and faster went the new craft. Mr. Swift headed her toward theopen sea, but stopped just before passing out of the creek, as he wasnot yet ready to venture into deep water.
"I want to test the auxiliary propellers," he said. After a littlelonger trial of the electric propulsion plates, which were found towork satisfactorily, sending the submarine up and down the creek at afast rate, the screws, such as are used on most submarines, were putinto gear. They did well, but were not equal to the plates, nor was somuch expected of them.
"I am perfectly satisfied," announced Mr. Swift as he once more headedthe boat to sea. "I think, Captain Weston, you had better go below now."
"Why so?"
"Because I am going to completely submerge the craft. Tom, close theconning tower door. Perhaps you will come in here with us, CaptainWeston, though it will be rather a tight fit."
"Thank you, I will. I want to see how it feels to be in a pilot houseunder water."
Tom closed the water-tight door of the conning tower. Word was sentthrough the tube to the engine-room that a more severe test of the shipwas about to be made. The craft was now outside the line of breakersand in the open sea.
"Is everything ready, Tom?" asked his father in a quiet voice.
"Everything," replied the lad nervously, for the anticipation of beingabout to sink below the surface was telling on them all, even on thecalm, old sea captain.
"Then open the tanks and admit the water," ordered Mr. Swift.
His son turned a valve and adjusted some levers. There was a hissingsound, and the Advance began sinking. She was about to dive beneath thesurface of the ocean, and those aboard her were destined to go througha terrible experience before she rose again.