第46章

THE TREASURE-SHIP

Sudden and forceful had been the underwater collision in which the M.

N.1 had participated.Either the lookout, aided though he was by the focused rays of the great searchlight, had failed to notice some obstruction in time to signal to avoid it, or there was an error somewhere else.At any rate the submarine had rammed something--what it was remained to be discovered.

"Bless my shotgun," cried Mr.Damon, "perhaps it was one of those big whales, Ned!""It didn't feel like a whale," answered the young financial man.

"And it wasn't!" declared Tom, who was hastening to the engine room."It was too solid for that."Following the collision there had been considerable confusion aboard the vessel.But discipline prevailed, and now it was necessary to determine the extent of the damage.This, Tom and his officers and crew proceeded to do.

There were automatic devices in the various control cabins, as well as in the main engine room, which told instantly if a leak had been sprung in any part of the craft.In that serious difficulty automatic pumps, controlled by an electrical device, at once began forcing out the water.Other apparatus rushed a supply of compressed air to the flooded compartment in order to hold out the water if possible.For further security the submarine was divided into different compartments, as are most ships in these days.The puncturing or flooding of one did not necessarily mean the foundering of the craft, or, in the case of a submarine, prevent her rising.

But Tom had sensed that the collision was almost a head-on one, and in that case it was likely that the plates might have started in several sections at once.This he wanted to discover, and take means of safety accordingly.

"How do you make it, Mr.Nelson?" cried the young inventor to the captain in the engine room.

"Only a slight leak in compartment B 2," he answered, as Tom's eyes rapidly scanned the tell-tale gauges."The pumps and air are taking care of that.""Good!" cried Tom."It doesn't seem possible that there isn't more than that, though.We struck a terrible blow.""Yes, but a glancing one, I think, sir."

"Send for the lookout," ordered Tom."I can't under stand why he didn't see whatever we've hit in time to avoid it."The lookout came in, very much frightened, it must be admitted.Only by a narrow margin had all escaped death.

"It was impossible to see it, Mr.Swift," he said."We had a clear course, not a thing in sight.The bottom was white sand, and I could almost count the fishes.All at once there was a big swirl of water that threw our nose around, and before I could signal to slow down or reverse we were right into her.""Into what?" asked Tom.

"Some sort of wreck, I took it to be.I shoved the wheel hard over as quickly as I could, and we struck only a glancing blow.""That's good," murmured Tom."I thought that must have been the explanation.But what's that about a sudden swirl of water?""It seemed to me like a change in the current," the lookout answered."It threw us right over against the wreck.""I can very easily imagine something like that happening," admitted Tom."Well, as long as we're not badly damaged I think we'll go outside and take a look.If we hit a wreck--""Bless my looking glass!" cried Mr.Damon, "it may be the Pandora, Tom.""That's too good to be true!" cried Ned."Anyhow, let's get out and take a look."Tom first made sure that the slight leak was not likely to increase, and then arrangements were made for himself, Ned, Koku, and some of the others to go outside in the diving suits.Mr.Damon wanted to be of the party, but Tom was afraid to permit him in that depth of water.Mr.Damon, in spite of his jollity, was not as young as he had been.

Shortly after the collision, which had missed being a disaster by a narrow margin, Tom and his companions were outside the submarine, walking on the white, sandy bottom of the sea.Around them was a myriad of fishes, some of large size, but seemingly harmless, as they scudded rapidly away after a glance at the strange creatures who appeared to have come to dispute with them for possession of Father Neptune's element.

Moving more slowly than usual, because of the greater pressure of water at that depth, Tom and the others made their way around the nose of the submarine.And then, in the glow of the big searchlight, they saw the dim outlines of a steamer, partly imbedded in the sand.Her stern was toward the undersea craft that had rammed her, and the name was not so obliterated but what the young inventor could read it.