Chapter Fifteen
At the Tropical Island
It was on the evening of the fourth day later that Captain Weston, whowas steering the craft, suddenly called out:
"Land ho!"
"Where away?" inquired Tom quickly, for he had read that this was theproper response to make.
"Dead ahead," answered the sailor with a smile. "Shall we make for it,if I may be allowed the question?"
"What land is it likely to be?" Mr. Swift wanted to know.
"Oh, some small tropical island," replied the seafaring man. "It isn'tdown on the charts. Probably it's too small to note. I should say itwas a coral island, but we may be able to find a spring of fresh waterthere, and some fruit."
"Then we'll land there," decided the inventor. "We can use some freshwater, though our distilling and ice apparatus does very well."
They made the island just at dusk, and anchored in a little lagoon,where there was a good depth of water.
"Now for shore!" cried Tom, as the submarine swung around on the chain."It looks like a fine place. I hope there are cocoanuts and orangeshere. Shall I get out the electric launch, dad?"
"Yes, you may, and we'll all go ashore. It will do us good to stretchour legs a bit."
Carried in a sort of pocket on the deck of the submarine was a smallelectric boat, capable of holding six. It could be slid from thepocket, or depression, into the water without the use of davits, and,with Mr. Sharp to aid him, Tom soon had the little craft afloat. Thebatteries were already charged, and just as the sun was going down thegold-seekers entered the launch and were soon on shore.
They found a good spring of water close at hand, and Tom's wishregarding the cocoanuts was realized, though there were no oranges. Thelad took several of the delicious nuts, and breaking them open pouredthe milk into a collapsible cup he carried, drinking it eagerly. Theothers followed his example, and pronounced it the best beverage theyhad tasted in a long time.
The island was a typical tropical one, not very large, and it did notappear to have been often visited by man. There were no animals to beseen, but myriads of birds flew here and there amid the trees, thetrailing vines and streamers of moss.
"Let's spend a day here to-morrow and explore it," proposed Tom, andhis father nodded an assent. They went back to the submarine as nightwas beginning to gather, and in the cabin, after supper, talked overthe happenings of their trip so far.
"Do you think we'll have any trouble getting the gold out of thewrecked vessel?" asked Tom of Captain Weston, after a pause.
"Well, it's hard to say. I couldn't learn just how the wreck lays,whether it's on a sandy or a rocky bottom. If the latter, it won't beso hard, but if the sand has worked in and partly covered it, we'llhave some difficulties, if I may be permitted to say so. However, don'tborrow trouble. We're not there yet, though at the rate we'retraveling it won't be long before we arrive."
No watch was set that night, as it was not considered necessary. Tomwas the first to arise in the morning, and he went out on the deck fora breath of fresh air before breakfast.
He looked off at the beautiful little island, and as his eye took inall of the little lagoon where the submarine was anchored he uttered astartled cry.
And well he might, for, not a hundred yards away, and nearer to theisland than was the Advance, floated another craft--another craft,almost similar in shape and size to the one built by the Swifts. Tomrubbed his eyes to make sure he was not seeing double. No, there couldbe no mistake about it. There was another submarine at the tropicalisland.
As he looked, some one emerged from the conning tower of the secondcraft. The figure seemed strangely familiar. Tom knew in a moment whoit was--Addison Berg. The agent saw the lad, too, and taking off hiscap and making a mocking bow, he called out:
"Good morning! Have you got the gold yet?"
Tom did not know what to answer. Seeing the other submarine, at anisland where he had supposed they would not be disturbed, wasdisconcerting enough, but to be greeted by Berg was altogether toomuch, Tom thought. His fears that the rival boat builders would followhad not been without foundation.
"Rather surprised to see us, aren't you?" went on Mr. Berg, smiling.
"Rather," admitted Tom, choking over the word.
"Thought you'd be," continued Berg. "We didn't expect to meet you sosoon, but we're glad we did. I don't altogether like hunting for sunkentreasure, with such indefinite directions as I have."
"You--are going to--" stammered Tom, and then he concluded it would bebest not to say anything. But his talk had been heard inside thesubmarine. His father came to the foot of the conning tower stairway.
"To whom are you speaking, Tom?" he asked.
"They're here, dad," was the youth's answer.
"Here? Who are here?"
"Berg and his employers. They've followed us, dad."