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.N.1 hadparticipated.Either the lookout, aided though he was by the focused rays ofthe great searchlight, had failed to notice some obstruction in time to signalto avoid it, or there was an error somewhere else.At any rate the submarinehad rammed somethingwhat it was remained to be discovered.Tom Swift And His Undersea SearchCHAPTER XXIV.THE TREASURESHIP77"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 wasPage 68 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmltoo solid for that."Following the collision there had been considerable confusion aboard thevessel.But discipline prevailed, and now it was necessary to determine theextent 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 themain engine room, which told instantly if a leak had been sprung in any partof the craft.In that serious difficulty automatic pumps, controlled by anelectrical device, at once began forcing out the water.Other apparatus rusheda supply of compressed air to the flooded compartment in order to hold out thewater if possible.For further security the submarine was divided intodifferent compartments, as are most ships in these days.The puncturing orflooding of one did not necessarily mean the foundering of the craft, or, inthe case of a submarine, prevent her rising.But Tom had sensed that the collision was almost a headon one, and in thatcase it was likely that the plates might have started in several sections atonce.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 inthe engine room."Only a slight leak in compartment B 2," he answered, as Tom's eyes rapidlyscanned the telltale 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 seewhatever we've hit in time to avoid it."The lookout came in, very much frightened, it must be admitted.Only by anarrow margin had all escaped death."It was impossible to see it, Mr.Swift," he said."We had a clear course, nota thing in sight.The bottom was white sand, and I could almost count thefishes.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 quicklyas 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?"Tom Swift And His Undersea SearchCHAPTER XXIV.THE TREASURESHIP78"It seemed to me like a change in the current," the lookout answered."Itthrew 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 alook.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 alook."Tom first made sure that the slight leak was not likely to increase, and thenarrangements were made for himself, Ned, Koku, and some of the others to gooutside in the diving suits.Mr.Damon wanted to be of the party, but Tom wasafraid to permit him in that depth of water.Mr.Damon, in spite of hisjollity, was not as young as he had been.Shortly after the collision, which had missed being a disaster by a narrowmargin, Tom and his companions were outside the submarine, walking on thewhite, sandy bottom of the sea.Around them was a myriad of fishes, some oflarge size, but seemingly harmless, as they scudded rapidly away after aglance at the strange creatures who appeared to have come to dispute with themPage 69 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlfor possession of Father Neptune's element.Moving more slowly than usual, because of the greater pressure of water atthat depth, Tom and the others made their way around the nose of thesubmarine.And then, in the glow of the big searchlight, they saw the dimoutlines of a steamer, partly imbedded in the sand.Her stern was toward theundersea craft that had rammed her, and the name was not so obliterated butwhat the young inventor could read it."The Pandora!" exclaimed Tom, speaking into his helmet telephone transmitter,the others all hearing him."We've found the treasureship at last!"And so they had
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