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〃They won't give up；〃 declared Mr。 Swift hopelessly。
〃No； we've got to race them for it； just as Berg proposed；〃 admitted
Tom。 〃But if they want a straightaway race we'll give it to 'em Let's run
her to the limit； dad。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
〃That's what we've been doing； Tom。〃
〃No； not exactly； for we've been submerged a little too much to get the
best speed out of our craft。 Let's go a little nearer the surface； and give
them the best race they'll ever have。〃
Then the race began； and such a contest of speed as it was！ With her
propellers working to the limit； and every volt of electricity that was
available forced into the forward and aft plates； the Advance surged
through the water； about ten feet below the surface。 But the Wonder kept
after her； giving her knot for knot。 The course of the leading submarine
was easy to trace now； in the morning light which penetrated ten feet
down。
〃No use；〃 remarked Tom again； when； after two hours； the Wonder
was still close behind them。 〃Our only chance is that they may have a
breakdown。〃
〃Or run out of air； or something like that；〃 added Captain Weston。
〃They are crowding us pretty close。 I had no idea they could keep up this
speed。 If they don't look out；〃 he went on as he looked from one of the aft
observation windows； 〃they'll foul us； and〃
His remarks were interrupted by a jar to the Advance。 She seemed to
shiver and careened to one side。 Then came another bump。
〃Slow down！〃 cried the captain； rushing toward the pilot house。
〃What's the matter？〃 asked Tom； as he threw the engines and electrical
machines out of gear。 Have we hit anything？〃
〃No。 Something has hit us；〃 cried the captain。 〃Their submarine has
rammed us。〃
〃Rammed us！〃 repeated Mr。 Swift。 〃Tom； run out the electric cannon！
They're trying to sink us！ We'll have to fight them。 Run out the stern
electric gnu and we'll make them wish they'd not followed us。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Eighteen
The Electric Gun
There was much excitement aboard the Advance。 The submarine
came to a stop in the water； while the treasure… seekers waited anxiously
for what was to follow。 Would they be rammed again？ This time；
stationary as they were； and with the other boat coming swiftly on； a hole
might be stove through the Advance； in spite of her powerful sides。
They had not long to wait。 Again there came a jar； and once more the
Swifts' boat careened。 But the blow was a glancing one and； fortunately；
did little damage。
〃They certainly must be trying to sink us；〃 agreed Captain Weston。
〃Come； Tom； we'll take a look from the stern and see what they're up to。〃
〃And get the stern electric gun ready to fire；〃 repeated Mr。 Swift。 〃We
must protect ourselves。 Mr。 Sharp and I will go to the bow。 There is no
telling what they may do。 They're desperate； and may ram us from in
front〃
Tom and the captain hurried aft。 Through the thick plate… glass
windows they could see the blunt nose of the Wonder not far away； the
rival submarine having come to a halt。 There she lay； black and silent； like
some monster fish waiting to devour its victim。
〃There doesn't appear to be much damage done back here；〃 observed
Tom。 〃No leaks。 Guess they didn't puncture us。〃
〃Perhaps it was due to an accident that they rammed us；〃 suggested the
captain。
〃Well； they wouldn't have done it if they hadn't followed us so close；〃
was the opinion of the young inventor。 〃They're taking too many chances。
We've got to stop 'em。〃
〃What is this electric gun your father speaks of？〃
〃Why； it's a regular electric cannon。 It fires a solid ball； weighing
about twenty…five pounds； but instead of powder； which would hardly do
under water； and instead of compressed air； which is used in the torpedo
tubes of the Government submarines； we use a current of electricity。 It
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
forces the cannon ball out with great energy。〃
〃I wonder what they will do next？〃 observed the captain； peering
through a bull'seye。
〃We can soon tell；〃 replied the youth。 〃We'll go ahead； and if they try
to follow I'm going to fire on them。〃
〃Suppose you sink them？〃
〃I won't fire to do that； only to disable them。 They brought it on
themselves。 We can't risk having them damage us。 Help me with the
cannon； will you please； captain？〃
The electric cannon was a long； steel tube in the after part of the
submarine。 It projected a slight distance from the sides of the ship； and by
an ingenious arrangement could he swung around in a ball and socket joint；
thus enabling it to shoot in almost any direction。
It was the work of but a few minutes to get it ready and； with the
muzzle pointing toward the Wonder； Tom adjusted the electric wires and
inserted the solid shot。
〃Now we're prepared for them！〃 he cried。 〃I think a good plan will be
to start ahead； and if they try to follow to fire on them。 They've brought it
on themselves。〃
〃Correct；〃 spoke Captain Weston。
Tom hurried forward to tell his father of this plan。
〃We'll do it！〃 cried Mr。 Swift。 〃Go ahead； Mr。 Sharp； and we'll see if
those scoundrels will follow。〃
The young inventor returned on the run to the electric cannon。 There
was a whir of machinery； and the Advance moved forward。 She increased
her speed； and the two watchers in the stern looked anxiously out of the
windows to see what their rivals would do。
For a moment no movement was noticeable on the part of the Wonder。
Then； as those aboard her appeared to realize that the craft on which they
depended to pilot them to the sunken treasure was slipping away； word
was given to follow。 The ship of Berg and his employers shot after the
Advance。
〃Here they come！〃 cried Captain Weston。