Tom Swift and His Submarine Boat | Page 8

boat, which he hoped to enter
in some trials for Government prizes. Mr. Swift remained at home to
work on this submarine, while his son and Mr. Sharp were sailing
above the clouds.
On their return, however, and after the bank mystery had been cleared
up, Tom and Mr. Sharp, aided Mr. Swift in completing the submarine,
until, when the present story opens, it needed but little additional work
to make the craft ready for the water.
Of course it had to be built near the sea, as it would have been
impossible to transport it overland from Shopton. So, before the keel
was laid, Mr. Swift rented a large cottage at a seaside place on the New
Jersey coast and there, after, erecting a large shed, the work on the
Advance, as the under-water ship was called, was begun.
It was soon to be launched in a large creek that extended in from the
ocean and had plenty of water at high tide. Tom and Mr. Sharp made
several trips back and forth from Shopton in their airship, to see that all
was safe at home and occasionally to get needed tools and supplies
from the shops, for not all the apparatus could be moved from Shopton
to the coast.
It was when returning from one of these trips that Tom brought with
him the paper containing an account of the wreck of the Boldero and
the sinking of the treasure she carried.
Until late that night the three fortune-hunters discussed various matters.
"We'll hurry work on the ship," said Mr. Swift it length. "Tom, I
wonder if your friend, Mr. Damon, would care to try how it seems
under Water? He stood the air trip fairly well."

"I'll write and ask him," answered the lad. "I'm sure he'll go."
Securing, a few days later, the assistance of two mechanics, whom he
knew he could trust, for as yet the construction of the Advance was a
secret, Mr. Swift prepared to rush work on the submarine, and for the
next three weeks there were busy times in the shed next to the seaside
cottage. So busy, in fact, were Tom and Mr. Sharp, that they only found
opportunity for one trip in the airship, and that was to get some supplies
from the shops at home.
"Well," remarked Mr. Swift one night, at the close of a hard day's work,
"another week will see our craft completed. Then we will put it in the
water and see how it floats, and whether it submerges as I hope it does.
But come on, Tom. I want to lock up. I'm very tired to-night."
"All right, dad," answered the young inventor coming from the
darkened rear of the shop. "I just want to--"
Ne paused suddenly, and appeared to be listening. Then he moved
softly back to where he had come from.
"What's the matter?" asked his father in a whisper. "What's up, Tom?"
The lad did not answer Mr. Swift, with a worried look on his face,
followed his son. Mr. Sharp stood in the door of the shop.
"I thought I heard some one moving around back here," went on Tom
quietly.
"Some one in this shop!" exclaimed the aged inventor excitedly. "Some
one trying to steal my ideas again! Mr. Sharp, come here! Bring that
rifle! We'll teach these scoundrels a lesson!"
Tom quickly darted hack to the extreme rear of the building. There was
a scuffle, and the next minute Tom cried out:
"What are you doing here?"
"Ha! I beg your pardon," replied a voice. "I am looking for Mr. Barton

Swift."
"My father," remarked Tom. "But that's a queer place to look for him.
He's up front. Father, here's a man who wishes to see you," he called.
"Yes, I strolled in, and seeing no one about I went to the rear of the
place," the voice went on. "I hope I haven't transgressed."
"We were busy on the other side of the shop, I guess," replied Tom, and
he looked suspiciously at the man who emerged from the darkness into
the light from a window. "I beg your pardon for grabbing you the way I
did," went on the lad, "but I thought you were one of a gang of men
we've been having trouble with."
"Oh, that's all right," continued the man easily. "I know Mr. Swift, and
I think he will remember me. Ah, Mr. Swift, how do you do?" he added
quickly, catching sight of Tom's father, who, with Mr. Sharp, was
coming to meet the lad.
"Addison Berg!" exclaimed the aged inventor as he saw the man's face
more plainly. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to see you," replied the man. "May I have a talk with you
privately?"
"I--I