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your right to the protection of your country； and I have no fear on that
score。 You will be shot within three days。 That is all。 Remove the
prisoners。〃
Protests were in vain； and it was equally useless to struggle。 The
prisoners were taken out on deck； for which they were thankful； for the
interior of the ship was close and hot； the weather being intensely
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
disagreeable。 They were told to keep within a certain space on deck； and a
guard of sailors； all armed； was placed near them。 From where they were
they could see their submarine floating on the surface of the little bay； with
several Brazilians on the small deck。 The Advance had been anchored； and
was surrounded by a flotilla of the native boats； the brown…skinned
paddlers gazing curiously at the odd craft。
〃Well； this is tough luck！〃 murmured Tom。 〃How do you feel； dad？〃
〃As well as can be expected under the circumstances；〃 was the reply。
〃What do you think about this； Captain Weston？〃
〃Not very much； if I may be allowed the expression；〃 was the answer。
〃Do you think they will dare carry out that threat？〃 asked Mr。 Sharp。
The captain shrugged his shoulders。 〃I hope it is only a bluff；〃 he
replied； 〃made to scare us so we will consent to giving up the submarine；
which they have no right to confiscate。 But these fellows look ugly enough
for anything；〃 he went on。
〃Then if there's any chance of them attempting to carry it out；〃 spoke
Tom； 〃we've got to do something。〃
〃Bless my gizzard； of course！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Damon。 〃But what？
That's the question。 To be shot！ Why； that's a terrible threat！ The villains〃
〃Silenceo！〃 shouted Lieutenant Drascalo； coming up at that moment。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
CHAPTER Twenty…One
The Escape
Events had happened so quickly that day that the gold… hunters could
scarcely comprehend them。 It seemed only a short time since Mr。 Swift
had been discovered lying disabled on the dynamo； and what had
transpired since seemed to have taken place in a few minutes； though it
was； in reality； several hours。 This was made manifest by the feeling of
hunger on the part of Tom and his friends。
〃I wonder if they're going to starve us； the scoundrels？〃 asked Mr。
Sharp； when the irate lieutenant was beyond hearing。 〃It's not fair to make
us go hungry and shoot us in the bargain。〃
〃That's so； they ought to feed us；〃 put in Tom。 As yet neither he nor the
others fully realized the meaning of the sentence passed on them。
From where they were on deck they could look off to the little island。
From it boats manned by natives were constantly putting off； bringing
supplies to the ship。 The place appeared to be a sort of calling station for
Brazilian warships； where they could get fresh water and fruit and other
food。
From the island the gaze of the adventurers wandered to the submarine；
which lay not far away。 They were chagrined to see several of the bolder
natives clambering over the deck。
〃I hope they keep out of the interior；〃 commented Tom。 〃If they get to
pulling or hauling on the levers and wheels they may open the tanks and
sink her； with the Conning tower open。〃
〃Better that； perhaps； than to have her fall into the hands of a foreign
power；〃 commented Captain Weston。 〃Besides； I don't see that it's going to
matter much to us what becomes of her after we're〃
He did not finish； but every one knew what he meant； and a grim
silence fell upon the little group。
There came a welcome diversion； however； in the shape of three
sailors； bearing trays of food； which were placed on the deck in front of
the prisoners； who were sitting or lying in the shade of an awning； for the
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
sun was very hot
〃Ha！ Bless my napkin…ring！〃 cried Mr。 Damon with something of his
former gaiety。 〃Here's a meal； at all events。 They don't intend to starve us。
Eat hearty； every one。〃
〃Yes； we need to keep up our strength；〃 observed Captain Weston。
〃Why？〃 inquired Mr。 Sharp。
〃Because we're going to try to escape！〃 exclaimed Tom in a low voice；
when the sailors who had brought the food had gone。 〃Isn't that what you
mean； captain？〃
〃Exactly。 We'll try to give these villains the slip； and we'll need all our
strength and wits to do it。 We'll wait until night； and see what we can do。〃
〃But where will we escape to？〃 asked Mr。 Swift。 〃The island will
afford no shelter； and〃
〃No； but our submarine will；〃 went on the sailor。
〃It's in the possession of the Brazilians；〃 objected Tom。
〃Once I get aboard the Advance twenty of those brown… skinned
villains won't keep me prisoner；〃 declared Captain Weston fiercely。 〃If we
can only slip away from here； get into the small boat； or even swim to the
submarine； I'll make those chaps on board her think a hurricane has broken
loose。〃
〃Yes； and I'll help；〃 said Mr。 Damon。
〃And I；〃 added Tom and the balloonist
〃That's the way to talk；〃 commented the captain。 〃Now let's eat； for I
see that rascally lieutenant coming this way； and we mustn't appear to be
plotting； or he'll be suspicious。〃
The day passed slowly； and though the prisoners seemed to be allowed
considerable liberty； they soon found that it was only apparent。 Once Tom
walked some distance from that portion of the deck where he and the
others had been told to remain。 A sailor with a gun at once ordered him
back。 Nor could they approach the rails without being directed； harshly
enough at times； to move back amidships。
As night approached the gold…seekers were on the alert for any chance
that might offer to slip away； or even attack their guard； but the number of
Brazilians around them was doubled in the evening； and after supper；
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT （or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure）
which was served to them on deck by