第17章

"Oh, we won't think of that.Of course, I'd like to go.I fully expected to be killed in the Red Cloud, but as I wasn't I'm ready to take a chance in the water.On the whole, I think I prefer to be buried at sea, anyhow.Now, then, will you take me?""I think I can safely promise," answered Tom with a smile at his friend's enthusiasm.

The two were approaching the city, having walked along as they talked.There were still some sand dunes near the road, and they kept on the side of these, nearest the beach, where they could watch the breakers.

"But you haven't told me where you are going," went on Mr.Damon, after blessing a few dozen objects."Where do the Government trials take place?""Well," replied the lad, "to be frank with you, we have abandoned our intention of trying for the Government prize.""Not going to try for it? Bless my slippers! Why not? Isn't fifty thousand dollars worth striving for? And, with the kind of a submarine you say you have, you ought to be able to win.""Yes, probably we could win," admitted the young inventor, "but we are going to try for a better prize.""A better one? I don't understand."

"Sunken treasure," explained Tom."There's a ship sunk off the coast of Uruguay, with three hundred thousand dollars in gold bullion aboard.Dad and I are going to try to recover that in our submarine.We're going to start day after to-morrow, and, if you like, you may go along.""Go along! Of course I'll go along!" cried the eccentric man."But I never heard of such a thing.Sunken treasure! Three hundred thousand dollars in gold! My, what a lot of money! And to go after it in a submarine! It's as good as a story!""Yes, we hope to recover all the treasure," said the lad."We ought to be able to claim at least half of it.""Bless my pocketbook!" cried Mr.Damon, but Tom did not hear him.At that instant his attention was attracted by seeing two men emerge from behind the sand dune near which he and Mr.Damon had haltedmomentarily, when the youth explained about the treasure.The man looked sharply at Tom.A moment later the first man was joined by another, and at the sight of him our hero could not repress an exclamation of alarm.For the second man was none other than Addison Berg.

The latter glanced quickly at Tom, and then, with a hasty word to his companion, the two swung around and made off in the opposite direction to that in which they had been walking.

"What's the matter?" asked Mr.Damon, seeing the young inventor was strangely affected.

"That--that man," stammered the lad.

"You don't mean to tell me that was one the Happy Harry gang, do you?""No.But one, or both of those men, may prove to be worse.That second man was Addison Berg, and he's agent for a firm of submarine boat builders who are rivals of dad's.Berg has been trying to find out why we abandoned our intention of competing for the Government prize.""I hope you didn't tell him."

"I didn't intend to," replied Tom, smiling grimly, "but I'm afraid I have, however He certainly overheard what I said.I spoke too loud.Yes, he must have heard me.That's why he hurried off so.""Possibly no harm is done.You didn't give the location of the sunken ship.""No; but I guess from what I said it will be easy enough to find.Well, if we're going to have a fight for the possession of that sunken gold, I'm ready for it.The Advance is well equipped for a battle.I must tell dad of this.It's my fault.""And partly mine, for asking you such leading questions in a public place," declared Mr.Damon."Bless my coat-tails, but I'm sorry! Maybe, after all, those men were so interested in what they themselves were saying that they didn't understand what you said."But if there had been any doubts on this score they would have been dissolved had Tom and his friend been able to see the actions of Mr.Berg and his companion a little later.The plans of the treasure-hunters had been revealed to their ears.