第36章

"So they're still following us," murmured Mr.Swift."I don't see why we can't shake them off.""It's on account of this luminous water," explained Captain Weston."Once we are clear of that it will be easy, I think, to give them the slip.That is, if we can get out of their sight long enough.Of course, if theykeep close after us, they can pick us up with their searchlight, for I suppose they carry one.""Yes," admitted the aged inventor, "they have as strong a one as we have.In fact, their ship is second only to this one in speed and power.I know, for Bentley & Eagert showed me some of the plans before they started it, and asked my opinion.This was before I had the notion of building a submarine.Yes, I am afraid we'll have trouble getting away from them.""I can't understand this phosphorescent glow keeping up so long," remarked Captain Weston."I've seen it in this locality several times, but it never covered such an extent of the ocean in my time.There must be changed conditions here now."For an hour or more the race was kept up, and the two submarines forged ahead through the glowing sea.The Wonder remained slightly above and to the rear of the other, the better to keep sight of her, and though the Advance was run to her limit of speed, her rival could not be shaken off.Clearly the Wonder was a speedy craft.

"It's too bad that we've got to fight them, as well as run the risk of lots of other troubles which are always present when sailing under water," observed Mn Damon, who wandered about the submarine like the nervous person he was."Bless my shirt-studs! Can't we blow them up, or cripple them in some way? They have no right to go after our treasure.""Well, I guess they've got as much right as we have," declared Tom."It goes to whoever reaches the wreck first.But what I don't like is their mean, sneaking way of doing it.If they went off on their own hook and looked for it I wouldn't say a word.But they expect us to lead them to the wreck, and then they'll rob us if they can.That's not fair.""Indeed, it isn't," agreed Captain Weston, "if I may be allowed the expression.We ought to find some way of stopping them.But, if I'm not mistaken," he added quickly, looking from one of the port bull's-eyes, "the phosphorescent glow is lessening.I believe we are running beyond that part of the ocean."There was no doubt of it, the glow was growing less and less, and ten minutes later the Advance was speeding along through a sea as black asnight.Then, to avoid running into some wreck, it was necessary to turn on the searchlight.

"Are they still after us?" asked Mr.Swift of his son, as he emerged from the engine-room, where he had gone to make some adjustments to the machinery, with the hope of increasing the speed.

"I'll go look," volunteered the lad.He climbed up into the conning tower again, and for a moment, as he gazed back into the black waters swirling all about, he hoped that they had lost the Wonder.But a moment later his heart sank as he caught sight, through the liquid element, of the flickering gleams of another searchlight, the rays undulating through the sea.

"Still following," murmured the young inventor."They're not going to give up.But we must make 'em--that's all."He went down to report what he had seen, and a consultation was held.Captain Weston carefully studied the charts of that part of the ocean, and finding that there was a great depth of water at hand, proposed a series of evolutions.

"We can go up and down, shoot first to one side and then to the other," he explained."We can even drop down to the bottom and rest there for a while.Perhaps, in that way, we can shake them off."They tried it.The Advance was sent up until her conning tower was out of the water, and then she was suddenly forced down until she was but a few feet from the bottom.She darted to the left, to the right, and even doubled and went back over the course she had taken.But all to no purpose.The Wonder proved fully as speedy, and those in her seemed to know just how to handle the submarine, so that every evolution of the Advance was duplicated.Her rival could not be shaken off.

All night this was kept up, and when morning came, though only the clocks told it, for eternal night was below the surface, the rival gold- seekers were still on the trail.

"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.""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 electricalmachines 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.