Tom Swift and the Electronic Hydrolung | Page 9

head in her lap, and Phyl held his hand
sympathetically, while Doc Simpson injected a hypodermic to ease the
pain. Chow steered the launch back to shore, and Tom was rushed to
the base infirmary in an ambulance.
Here he was placed in a decompression chamber for several hours and
later transferred to a hospital bed. Bud Barclay came to visit him.
"We're a fine couple of fish," he said.
Tom chuckled wryly. "Live fish, anyhow."
"In my case, thanks to you," Bud said.
"Forget it, pal. The score's about even, I should think," Tom said,
recalling the many life-or-death adventures they had shared.
Bud was thrilled to hear of Tom's electronic hydrolung. The young
inventor spent the evening sketching out an improved design to
eliminate future accidents.
"I'll install a special device to remove the nitrogen as the wearer
exhales," Tom explained. "Then a valve will feed in helium to replace
it. Since helium doesn't dissolve in the blood like nitrogen does, it will
not bubble out when the pressure is reduced. Should have thought of
that before!"
"But you'll need a tank for the helium, won't you?" Bud objected.
Tom shook his head. "Enough can be compressed into a small capsule
to supply the wearer's needs. Remember, it can be used over and over
again."
"Pretty neat," Bud commented.
By morning Tom felt thoroughly recovered. He insisted upon flying
back to Enterprises to make the necessary changes in his hydrolung.

Bud accompanied him, eager to get back on the job.
In a few hours Tom had added a small fitting to his power unit to
provide for helium substitution. Then the two boys hopped back to
Fearing for a second deep-water test. This time, Tom was delighted to
find that he could operate comfortably at great depths, as well as rise or
descend suddenly without ill effect.
Bud was aglow with enthusiasm. "Boy, we can really explore now!"
After the boys had returned to Enterprises, Tom phoned Arv Hanson
and asked that a duplicate of the hydrolung be turned out in the shop as
soon as possible. It was ready the following Monday morning, so Tom
suggested to his father that the two visit the proposed underwater site
and make some sample plantings.
"Great idea, son," Mr. Swift agreed. "I want to try out your new diving
apparatus myself. If it's successful, we'll be able to tackle two problems
at once--recover the Jupiter prober and start the 'sea farm.'"
They flew to Fearing, then went by boat to the farm site, about half a
mile offshore. Each carried several of the valuable Far Eastern plants.
[Illustration]
The silt beds which Mr. Swift had selected were just deep enough to
keep the plants from being discovered, yet enable them to receive
sufficient sunlight.
Tom and his father started their planting. But no sooner had the first
plants been embedded than fish darted in to nibble them. Even the roots
disappeared into their greedy maws.
[Illustration]
"Looks as though we'll have to build some sort of net enclosure around
and over our farm," Mr. Swift said, after they had climbed back into the
boat. "But at least your hydrolung device is a great success, son!"

Tom was thoughtful. "Dad, I wonder if the fish would eat those plants
from space which you've been growing under salt water?"
Tom was referring to certain strange plants rocketed to earth by
unknown space friends with whom the Swifts had been in
communication.
"I have a hunch," Tom went on, "that the fish might be repelled by the
unusual scent of those space plants. If so, we could scatter them among
the earth plants to keep the fish away."
Mr. Swift was impressed by Tom's idea. As soon as they had returned
to Enterprises, he proposed that the experiment get under way.
Tom volunteered to undertake the job at once with Bud. While the
young inventor phoned his copilot, Mr. Swift went to his own
laboratory to prepare the plants for shipment.
Twenty minutes later the boys took off in a jet. The plants had been
parceled in transparent plastic film. Glistening with a red metallic
sheen, they looked somewhat like tulips with honeycombed centers.
"Scarecrow plants to drive off fishes," Bud joked. "What will scientists
think of next!"
Tom laughed, then abruptly frowned. "Hey! What's that character up
to?" he said. "Trying to buzz us?"
A sleek gray jet without markings was arrowing in on them from three
o'clock. Bud flicked on the radio and barked a warning. The plane
made no response. As it kept coming, Tom increased speed--then rolled,
dived, and changed course, but failed to shake off their pursuer.
Bud, meanwhile, was frantically calling Enterprises and a nearby
airport, but getting no response. Yet their radio was working, for a
voice suddenly