按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Damon。 〃I particularly like the cabin arrangements of the Advance。 I think
I shall enjoy myself。〃
He would be hard to please who could not take pleasure from a trip in
the submarine。 The cabin was particularly fine； and the sleeping
arrangements were good。
More supplies could be carried than was possible on the airship； and
there was more room in which to cook and serve food。 Mr。 Damon was
fond of good living； and the kitchen pleased him as much as anything else。
Early the next morning Tom set out for Atlantis； to meet Captain
Weston at the hotel。 The young inventor inquired of the clerk whether the
seafaring man had arrived； and was told that he had come the previous
evening。
〃Is he in his room？〃 asked Tom。
〃No；〃 answered the clerk with a peculiar grin。 〃He's an odd character。
Wouldn't go to bed last night until we had every window in his room open；
though it was blowing quite hard； and likely to storm。 The captain said he
was used to plenty of fresh air。 Well； I guess he got it； all right。〃
〃Where is he now？〃 asked the youth； wondering what sort of an
individual he was to meet。
〃Oh； he was up before sunrise； so some of the scrubwomen told me。
They met him coming from his room； and he went right down to the beach
with a big telescope he always carries with him。 He hasn't come back yet。
Probably he's down on the sand。〃
〃Hasn't he had breakfast？〃
46
… Page 47…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
〃No。 He left word he didn't want to eat until about four bells； whatever
time that is。〃
〃It's ten o'clock；〃 replied Tom； who had been studying up on sea terms
lately。 〃Eight bells is eight o'clock in the morning； or four in the afternoon
or eight at night； according to the time of day。 Then there's one bell for
every half hour； so four bells this morning would be ten o'clock in this
watch； I suppose。〃
〃Oh； that's the way it goes； eh？〃 asked the clerk。 〃I never could get it
through my head。 What is twelve o'clock noon？〃
〃That's eight bells； too； so is twelve o'clock midnight。 Eight bells is as
high as they go on a ship。 But I guess I'll go down and see if I can meet the
captain。 It will soon be ten o'clock； or four bells； and he must be hungry
for breakfast。 By the way； is that Mr。 Berg still here？〃
〃No； he went away early this morning。 He and Captain Weston seemed
to strike up quite an acquaintance； the night clerk told me。 They sat and
smoked together until long after midnight； or eight bells；〃 and the clerk
smiled as he glanced down at the big diamond ring on his little finger。
〃They did？〃 fairly exploded Tom； for he had visions of what the wily
Mr。 Berg might worm out of the simple captain。
〃Yes。 Why； isn't the captain a proper man to make friends with？〃 and
the clerk looked at Tom curiously。
〃Oh； yes； of course；〃 was the hasty answer。 〃I guess I'll go and see if I
can find himthe captain； I mean。〃
Tom hardly knew what to think。 He wished his father； or Mr。 Sharp；
had thought to warn Captain Weston against talking of the wreck。 It might
be too late now。
The young inventor hurried to the beach； which was not far from the
hotel。 He saw a solitary figure pacing up and down； and from the fact that
the man stopped； every now and then； and gazed seaward through a large
telescope； the lad concluded it was the captain for whom he was in search。
He approached； his footsteps making no sound on the sand。 The man was
still gazing through the glass。
〃Captain Weston？〃 spoke Tom。
Without a show of haste； though the voice must have startled him； the
47
… Page 48…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
captain turned。 Slowly he lowered the telescope； and then he replied
softly：
〃That's my name。 Who are you； if I may ask？〃
Tom was struck； more than by anything else； by the gentle voice of the
seaman。 He had prepared himself； from the description of Mr。 Sharp； to
meet a gruff； bewhiskered individual； with a voice like a crosscut saw； and
a rolling gait。 Instead he saw a man of medium size； with a smooth face；
merry blue eyes； and the softest voice and gentlest manner imaginable。
Tom was very much disappointed。 He had looked for a regular sea…dog；
and he met a landsman； as he said afterward。 But it was not long before
our hero changed his mind regarding Captain Weston。
〃I'm Tom Swift；〃 the owner of that name said； 〃and I have been sent to
show you the way to where our ship is ready to launch。〃 The young
inventor refrained from mentioning submarine； as it was the wish of Mn
Sharp to disclose this feature of the voyage to the sailor himself。
〃Ha； I thought as much；〃 resumed the captain quietly。 〃It's a fine day； if
I may be permitted to say so；〃 and he seemed to hesitate； as if there was
some doubt whether or not he might make that observation。
〃It certainly is；〃 agreed the lad。 Then； with a smile he added： 〃It is
nearly eight bells。〃
〃Ha！〃 exclaimed the captain； also smiling； but even his manner of
saying 〃Ha！〃 was less demonstrative than that of most persons。 〃I believe I
am getting hungry； if I may be allowed the remark；〃 and again he seemed
asking Tom's pardon for mentioning the fact。
〃Perhaps you will come back to the cabin and have a little breakfast
with me；〃 he went on。 〃I don't know what sort of a galley or cook they
have aboard the Beach Hotel； but it can't be much worse than some I've
tackled。〃
〃No； thank you；〃 answered the youth。 〃I've had my breakfast。 But I'll
wait for you； and then I'd like to get back。 Dad and Mr。 Sharp are anxious
to meet you。〃
〃And I am anxious to meet them； if you don't mind me mentioning it；〃
was the reply； as the captain once more put the spyglass to his eye and
took an observation。 〃Not many sails in sight this morning；〃 he added。
48
… Page 49…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
〃But the weather is fine； and we ought to get off in good shape to hunt for
the treasure about which Mr。 Sharp wrote me。 I believe we are going after
treasure； he said； 〃that is； if you don't mind talking about it。〃
〃Not in the least；〃 replied Tom quickly； thinking this a good
opportunity for broaching a subject that was worrying him。