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sand has worked in and partly covered it； we'll have some difficulties； if I
may be permitted to say so。 However； don't borrow trouble。 We're not
there yet； though at the rate we're traveling it won't be long before we
arrive。〃
No watch was set that night； as it was not considered necessary。 Tom
was the first to arise in the morning； and he went out on the deck for a
breath of fresh air before breakfast。
He looked off at the beautiful little island； and as his eye took in all of
the little lagoon where the submarine was anchored he uttered a startled
cry。
And well he might； for； not a hundred yards away； and nearer to the
island than was the Advance； floated another craftanother craft； almost
similar in shape and size to the one built by the Swifts。 Tom rubbed his
eyes to make sure he was not seeing double。 No； there could be no mistake
about it。 There was another submarine at the tropical island。
As he looked； some one emerged from the conning tower of the
second craft。 The figure seemed strangely familiar。 Tom knew in a
moment who it wasAddison Berg。 The agent saw the lad； too； and taking
off his cap and making a mocking bow； he called out：
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
〃Good morning！ Have you got the gold yet？〃
Tom did not know what to answer。 Seeing the other submarine； at an
island where he had supposed they would not be disturbed； was
disconcerting enough； but to be greeted by Berg was altogether too much；
Tom thought。 His fears that the rival boat builders would follow had 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 so
soon； but we're glad we did。 I don't altogether like hunting for sunken
treasure； with such indefinite directions as I have。〃
〃Youare going to〃 stammered Tom； and then he concluded it would
be best not to say anything。 But his talk had been heard inside the
submarine。 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。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Sixteen
〃We'll Race You For It〃
Mr。 Swift hurried up on deck。 He was accompanied by Captain
Weston。 At the sight of Tom's father； Mr。 Berg； who had been joined by'
two other men； called out：
〃You see we also concluded to give up the trial for the Government
prize； Mr。 Swift。 We decided there was more money in something else。
But we still will have a good chance to try the merits of our respective
boats。 We hurried and got ours fitted up almost as soon as you did yours；
and I think we have the better craft。〃
〃I don't care to enter into any competition with you；〃 said Mr。 Swift
coldly。
〃Ah； but I'm afraid you'll have to； whether you want to or not；〃 was the
insolent reply。
〃What's that？ Do you mean to force this matter upon me？〃
〃I'm afraid I'll have tomy employers and I； that is。 You see； we
managed to pick up your trail after you left the Jersey coast； having an
idea where you were bound； and we don't intend to lose you now。〃
〃Do you mean to follow us？〃 asked Captain Weston softly。
〃Well； you can put it that way if you like；〃 answered one of the two
men with Mr。 Berg。
〃I forbid it！〃 cried Mr。 Swift hotly。 〃You have no right to sneak after
us。〃
〃I guess the ocean is free；〃 continued the rascally agent。
〃Why do you persist in keeping after us？〃 inquired the aged inventor；
thinking it well to ascertain； if possible； just how much the men knew。
〃Because we're after that treasure as well as you；〃 was the bold reply。
〃You have no exclusive right to it。 The sunken ship is awaiting the first
comer； and whoever gets there first can take the gold from the wreck。 We
intend to be there first； but we'll be fair with you。〃
〃Fair？ What do you mean？〃 demanded Tom。
〃This： We'll race you for it。 The first one to arrive will have the right to
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
search the wreck for the gold bullion。 Is that fair？ Do you agree to it？〃
〃We agree to nothing with you；〃 interrupted Captain Weston； his usual
diffident manner all gone。 〃I happen to be in partial command of this craft；
and I warn you that if I find you interfering with us it won't be healthy for
you。 I'm not fond of fighting； but when I begin I don't like to stop；〃 and he
smiled grimly。 〃You'd better not follow us。〃
〃We'll do as we please；〃 shouted the third member of the trio on the
deck of the other boat； which； as Tom could see； was named the Wonder。
〃We intend to get that gold if we can；〃
〃All right。 I've warned you；〃 went on the sailor； and then； motioning to
Tom and his father to follow； he went below。
〃Well； what's to be done？〃 asked Mr。 Swift when they were seated in
the living…room； and had informed the others of the presence of the rival
submarine。
〃The only thing I see to do is to sneak away unobserved； go as deep as
possible； and make all haste for the wreck；〃 advised the captain。 〃They
will depend on us； for they have evidently no chart of the wreck； though of
course the general location of it may be known to them from reading the
papers。 I hoped I had thrown them off the track by the false chart I
dropped； but it seems they were too smart for us。〃
〃Have they a right to follow us？〃 asked Tom。
〃Legally； but not morally。 We can't prevent them； I'm afraid。 The only
thing to do is to get there ahead of them。 It will be a race for the sunken
treasure； and we must get there first。〃
〃What do you propose doing； captain？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless my
shirt…studs； but can't we pull their ship up on the island and leave it there？〃
〃I'm afraid such high…handed proceedings would hardly answer；〃
replied Mr。 Swift。 〃No； as Captain Weston says； we must get there ahead
of t