“And we have no projectiles,” Bud said meekly.
“Exactly,” Tom replied quietly. “And what’s
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more, I think we’d better turn on our jet and swing around to the shore now while they’re busy inside there with the Devilfish.”
With a single motion Tom swung the rudder and cut in the sub’s full power.
The Sea Dart streaked like a scared barracuda toward the rock-ledged shore.
The wide arc ended as Tom reduced speed about a hundred feet from the channel mouth.
Bringing the submarine flush against the almost vertical natural rock walls of the island, he gunned it gently until he felt the deep currents take hold of the craft. Then, turning off the power, he looked into the periscope and saw that they were moving slowly past the shore line.
“Now we go to the bottom!” the inventor announced, twisting the valves to take on full ballast. The submarine lowered gradually into the fast-moving water.
“Run into the nose and keep reporting what you see until we come to the corner,” Tom called to Bud. “And when you see the end of the rock wall notify me fast. Our lives will depend on it!”
Bud dashed forward and took up his position in the transparent bow.
As the jetmarine neared the deadly entrance, Bud called out, “Are you sure you want to go through with this, Tom? We have enough evidence that this is the pirates’ hideout. We never can capture those men alone. What say we leave and send for help?”
“We’ve got to continue,” Tom replied as the submarine gained momentum.
“According to the first