第42章

STUDYING CURRENTS

There was no question about Tom's statement.They had approached close to the side of a small, sunken and wrecked steamer, and in her side was torn a great hole.In the light from the submarine it could be seen that the plates bent inward, indicating that the explosion was from outside.

"What are you going to do, Tom?" asked Ned, as he saw his chum move the engine room telegraph signal to the stop position.

"Going to investigate," was the answer."We might as well take the time.We may learn something of value.""Do you think there is any treasure in her?" asked Mr.Damon.

"There might be," answered Tom."We'll put on the diving suits and go outside.""I hope there aren't any devil fish," remarked Ned.

"Same here," Tom agreed."But I don't believe we'll meet with any.Will you take a chance, Ned?""I surely will! I'd like to find out what sort of ship that is --or rather, was, for there isn't much left of her."He spoke truly, for indeed the torpedo had created fearful havoc.The full extent of it was not observed until Tom, Ned, Koku and two of the crew had put on diving suits and approached the hulk.She lay on her side on the sandy bottom, heeled over somewhat, and when the investigators had walked around her, as they were able to do, they saw a second, and even larger hole in the opposite side.

"Two submarines must have attacked her," said Ned, speaking through his telephone to Tom.

"Either that, or else one sent a torpedo into her, dived, came up on the other side and sent another.""Well, let's see if she has any treasure aboard," Ned proposed."Wouldn't it be queer if we should discover two treasure ships?""More queer than likely," Tom answered."We've got to be careful going inside her.""Why?" asked Ned."Do you think we'll set off a hidden mine?""No, but part of the wreckage might be loosened if we climbed over it, and we might fall and be pinned down.I've read of divers being caught that way.We must be careful.""Do you suppose a German sub did this?" Ned asked.

"I think very likely," Tom answered."Maybe we can tell if we can discover the nationality of this craft."They made their way to a position just outside the gaping hole in the starboard side of the craft.Evidently; it was, or had been, a tramp steamer, and the torpedo hole on her starboard side was about amidships.She must have filled and sunk quickly with two such great holes torn in her.

Standing near the wound in the steel skin, Tom and his companions tried to see what was inside.Their portable torches did not give light enough to make out clearly the character of the cargo carried, and it was too risky to venture into the mass of wreckage that must be the result of the explosion of the torpedo.

"Let's try the other side," suggested Tom, and they moved around the stern of the craft.When they reached the place where the name was visible Tom raised his electric torch and, in the glow of it, they all read the painted inscription, Blakesly, New York.

"That's the vessel that disappeared so mysteriously!" exclaimed Ned, speaking through his instrument."I remember reading about her.She sailed from New York for Brest, but was never heard of.At last we have solved the mystery!""Yes," agreed Tom, "but without much avail.We are too late to do any good.""Not one of her crew or passengers was ever heard of," went on Ned."It was surmised that a German sub attacked her, and that she was either sunk 'without a trace' or else her survivors were taken aboard the submarine and carried to Germany.""Perhaps we may learn something to that end," said Tom, as they got around to the other side.The hole there was not quite so big, and as it seemed safe to enter Tom and Ned prepared to do so, the others remaining outside to give them aid in case of necessity.

It was comparatively easy to enter by this wound in the side of the Blakesly, and, proceeding cautiously, Tom and Ned made the attempt.They found they could not penetrate far, however, because of the mass of wreckage scattered about by the explosion.They could see through into the engine room, and there the machinery was in every stage of destruction, while below the boilers were disrupted.

"She must have gone down in a hurry," remarked Tom.

"Yes, and with part of her crew," added Ned, as he pointed to where a heap of white bones lay--grim reminders of the Great War.The engine room forces had been trapped and carried down to death.

"I wonder if, by any chance, she did carry gold," suggested Ned.