Frank Reade Library: Six Sunken Pirates — page 4: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

4 SIX SUNKEN PIRATES, He jumped into a carriage in waiting and was driven at-once to the machine works. As the carriage passed through the big gate Frank met the profes- sor, and a moment later they were in the private office having an ani- mated discussion. ‘+T have hardly dared hope that you would decide favorably,” began Pentiow. But Frank said blantly: ‘‘T have made up my mind; in fact, I made it up then.” “¢ Ah!” ‘6 We will g Pentlow nae & a little leap in the air and a cry of joy. “Hurrah!” be shouted, ‘‘it will be the biggest undertaking of this decade!” ‘‘That is saying a good deal,” laughed Frank. ‘© ] don’: care if it is; only think of it? Under the Caribbean Sea to find Six Sunken Pirates and the Golden City of Kutunda! Why, it is a marvelous achievement.” ‘* Tt will do if we can only find the sunken city,” said Frank. ‘s We shall surely succeed,” said Pentlow, confidently. ‘‘T am glad that you have so much faith.” ‘¢ We shall see!” ‘¢ But—would you not like to take a look at the submarine boat?” “* Delighted, I assure you.” ‘¢Come this way.” Frank led the way across the yard toa big gate. and they passed into a yard beyond. In the center of this yard there was a large basin or tank of water. In this floated the wonderful craft, known as the subinarine boat. In its lines the Sea Mole appeared to be unlike any ordinary sailing craft. It approached more nearly the character of some torpedo boais owned by the Government. It was of steel so far as the hull went, and had a long pointed ram. Frank led the way on board. The deck was occupied almost entirely by the cabins and : a huge dome supplied with wiadows of thickest plate glass, protected by wire ecreens. Two masts rose from the deck, though they were not designed to carry sails, but, as Frank declared, to steady the boat. Forward over the ram was the pilot house. A search-light of enormous power occupied a position in the for- ward part of the big dome. Frank and bis visitor walked around the deck, which was protected by a guard rail of polished brass. The forward cabins adjoined the pilot house, and were entered Dy means of a door and a vestibule, ‘¢ Now we will enter the cabin,” said Frank. ‘‘ You will see that I have spared no expense io making it comfortable.” ‘‘T should say not,” agreed Pentluw. ‘It is beautifully furnished.” Indeed, the appointments of the Sea Mole’s cabio were fit fora kiog, and exceeded all efforts of the imagination. There were elegant couches and window seats, the walls were pad- ded with richest satin, and there were bric-a-brack and book cases set in the walls, and in fact, every dosign for comfort and conven- ience. Beneath the skylight of the big dome there was a large dining table set with the clioicest of silver and cut glass. Pomp was © number one cook, and presided over the galley near by io Sirst class style. Then there were the sleeping bunks and the smoking room, and the gun room or armory, where were kept all sorts of weapons and am- munition. ‘‘We could not use rifles under water,” said Frank, ‘‘ but we might go ashore somewhere, you know.” ‘“- Surely,” agreed Pentlow, ‘‘ they are necegsary adjuncts.” “So I thought.” They now passed down under the pilot house to the engine room. Here were the storage batteries upon a system of economy in space which was a secret of Frank’s. The delicate but powerful electrical machinery was a wonderful thiag to inspect. This furnished motive power to the boat, and also was distributed over the craft for various purposes, such as lighting and the auto- matic closing of the big tank which regulated the depression and ele- vation of the boat. This wag a skillfully arranged invention. The big tank was connect- ed with the sea by means of great tubes. By a system of expansion the weter could be brought into the tank in any quantity and almost instantly. This would cause the boat to sink slow or fast, or to any required depth. Toraise the boat, the pressure of a button brought elec- trical pressure to bear and the water was expelled. In the pilot-house,was a key board. By means of this the boat could be guided or propelled, or otherwise regulated. All these things Pentilow noted keenls and “with commendation. Then a sudden thought struck him. ‘« By the way!” he exclaimed, ‘‘ what do you do for air while you are under water?” i. We never lack for air,” replied Frank, ‘‘ because we manufacture Pe * Manufacture it?” .“ Certainly.” * How can you do that?” ‘‘ Easy enough! Have you not seen my new patent diving suit He opened this Rt wilh wich a diver can dispense with a Jife line?” “5 ov’ ‘* Well, fhe principle is, that of generating the purest of oxygen by means of chemicals. These are placed in a receptacle on the back of a diver and the oxygen as manufactured by fhe chemicals passes into the reservoir and thence into the helmet. There is a constant circulation as spother chemical converts the bad air and gases into oxygen again,” “ By Jupiter!” exclaimed Pentlow, ‘ that have such a generator aboard this craft?” ‘We have many of them. Pipes extend all along the hull and ox- ygen is kept in constant circulation.” ‘¢T am satistied,” cried Pentlow hoarsely; ‘let us lose no time in making the atart.” “Are you ready?’ ‘¢T will go this minute just aa Iam if you say so.” ‘* Let us wail uotil to-morrow morning and then we can get every- thing ready in the meanwhile.” ‘Tt is agreed!” cried the professor; ‘‘ and I hope beaven wiil smile upon our undertaking.” ig ingenious. And you CHAPTER III. UNDER THE SEA. THE next morning the submarine boat was cleared of all landing planks, and floated in the center of the Casin ready for a start. It is needless to say that Pentlow was one of the first on hand. He announced himself in readiness for the start. We will not dwell upon the details of this. Suatfice it to gay that the submarine boat was propelled down to the river through a connecting canal and a lock. | Then it made its way down the river to the sea. All along the river banks there were great crowds of enthusiastic spectators. It was a complete ovation all the way to the sea, When the Sea Mole finally Jeft the delta of the river and glided into salt water, the voyagers were all upon .the gui vive, especially Pent- low. The submarine boat raced along over the bounding waves for some distdnce. She looked for all the world like a naval torpedo boat. All vessels which sighted her made signals which indicated that they believed her in government service. This caused a general laugh. ‘“We might masquerade quite effectually if we chose,” bows in salt water, let us see how she will behave in the deep sea,” ‘ Good!” cried the professor. ‘‘ We are then to havea glimpse of the bed of the ocean.” ‘That will be an old story before we return,” said Frank; ‘ look out for yourselves now.” The voyagers were all on the outer deck at the moment. necessary to get into the cabin in quick order. This was done and then a pressure upon an electric button hermet- ically sealed the doors and windows. Frank was at the key board.and with a quick movement he sudden- ly moved a lever to one side. This caused the reservoir valve to open and inatantly the boat began to sink. Down she settled, and with a plunge went under the surface. There was brief darkness, Then Frank pressed a button, and instantly a brilliant flood of electric light pervaded the cabin of the boat. The searchlight also flashed forth, and made a long vista of radi- ance down through the water. Down sank the boat. Down she went with a peculiar jolling and jarring motion, which Frank described as due to the resistance of the water. It seemed as if this would never cease. Frank glanced at the gauge, and said: ‘« We are now at a depth of six hundred feet.” ‘« Great Cicero!” exclaimed the professor; ‘‘ she stands the pressure well!” ‘ Sarely,” agreed Frank. ‘‘ That is what I built her for. go. very much deeper without fear of arm.” Presently the gauge recorded a thousend feet. to look for the bottom. ‘We are a fifth of a mile under the surface,” he said, good comfortable distance. farther.” , Just as he finished, a great cry escaped the professor’s lips, ‘* Hurrah!” he shouted, ‘‘ there it is at last.” Barney rashed to the window and Pomp came up out of the galley; the sight which the voyagers beheld was a curious one, The bed of the ocean presented a strange and wild appearance. There were immense jungles of sea-weei, stretches of sand, reefa of coral and rock, and great varieties of shellfish and finny denizens, These were of every description and size. They were not at all frightened either, bat came shoaling about the boat, bumping their curious noses against the windows as if they longed to gain entrance to the cabin. The professor was right in his element, He devoted his time assiduously to classifying and studying them. But the multifarity of the new species completely appalled kim. Frank did not permit the boat to touch the bottom, but kept it at an elevation of twenty or thirty feet. In this manner the submarine voyagers sailed on. We cas Frank now began “which is a I hope we will not have to descend much declared . Frank, ‘‘ but as this ie the first time that the Sea Mole has dipped her - It became { . EO OO > GC SS (GO) >