第26章

IN STRANGE PERIL

"What is it, Tom? What is it?" cried Mr.Damon, not stopping in this moment of excitement to bless anything."What is going to attack Ned and Koku?""I don't know," answered the young inventor."It's some big fish evidently.I must get to the diving chamber!"He gave a quick glance through the observation windows.Ned and the giant were moving as fast as they could toward the side of the craft where they could enter.The black, shadowy form was nearer now, but its nature could not be made out.

Calling to his force of assistants, Tom stood ready to let his chum and Koku out of the diving chamber as soon as the water should have been pumped from it.

A little later, as they all stood waiting in tense eagerness, there came a signal that the two divers had entered the side chamber.Quickly Tom turned the lever that closed the outer door.

"They're safe!" he exclaimed, as he started the pumps to working.But even as he spoke they felt a jar, and the submarine rolled partly over as if she had collided with some object.Yet this could not be, as she was stationary on the floor of the ocean.

"Bless my cake of soap, Tom!" cried Mr.Damon, "what in the world is that?""If it's an accident!" exclaimed Mr.Hardley, "I think it ought to be prevented.There have been too many happenings on this trip already.I thought you said your submarine was safe for underwater trips!" he fairly snapped at Tom.

The young inventor gave one look at the irate man who was coming out in his true colors.But it was no time to rebuke him.Too much yet remained to be done.Ned and Koku were still in the chamber and protected from some unknown sea monster by only a comparatively thin door.They must be inside to be perfectly safe.

Tom speeded up the pumps that were forcing the water from the chamber so the inner door could be opened.Eagerly he and his men watched the gauges to note when the last gallon should have been forced out by the compressed air.Not until then would it be safe to let Ned and Koku step into the interior of the craft.

The submarine had not ceased rolling from the force of the blow she had received when there came another, and this time on the opposite side.Once more she rolled to a dangerous angle.

"Bless my tea biscuit!" cried Mr.Damon, "what is it all about, Tom Swift?""I don't know," was the low-voiced answer, "unless a pair of monsters are attacking us on both sides alternately.But we'll soon learn.There goes the last of the water!"The gauge showed that the diving chamber was empty.Quickly the inner doors were opened, stud, with their suits still dripping from their immersion in the salty sea, Ned and Koku stepped forth.In another moment their helmets were loosed from the bayonet catches, and they could speak.

"What was it, Ned?" cried Tom."Big fish!" answered Koku.

"Two monster whales!" gasped Ned."We barely got away from them! They're ramming the sub, Tom!"As he spoke there came a blow on the port side, greater than either of the two preceding ones.Those in the M.N.1 staggered about, and had to hold on to objects to preserve their footing.

"Both at the same time!" cried Ned."The two whales are coming at us both at once!"This was evidently the case.Tom Swift quickly hurried to the engine room.

"What are you going to do?" asked Mr.Hardley."You ought to do something! I'm not going to be killed down here by a whale.You've got to do something, Swift! I've had enough of this!"Tom did not deign an answer, but hurried on.Mr.Damon followed him, having seen that some of the sailors were helping Ned and Koku out of thediving suits.

"Are we in any danger, Tom?" asked the eccentric man.

"Yes; but I think it is easily remedied," was the answer."We'll go up to the surface.I don't believe the whales will follow us.Or, if they do, they can't do much damage when we are in motion.It's because we are stationary and they are moving that the blows seem so violent.Unless they collide head on with us, in the opposite direction to ours, we ought to be able to get clear of them.If they persist in following us--"He paused as he pulled over the lever that would send the M.N.1 to the surface.

"Well, what then?" asked Mr.Damon.

"Then we'll have to use some weapon, and I have several," finished the young inventor.

A few moments later the craft was in motion, not before, however, she was struck another blow, but only a glancing one.

"We're puzzling them!" cried Tom.

Having done all that was possible for the time being, Tom hurried to the observation chamber, followed by the ethers.There Tom switched on the powerful lights.For a moment nothing was to be seen but the swirling, green water.Then, suddenly, a great shape came into view of the glass windows, followed by another.