“What is it, Dad?”
“An attempt to earthquake New York has just failed!”
Grins broke out on the faces of the crew as they heard Mr. Swift’s words come over the loudspeaker. Bud let out a happy whoop.
“That’s great, Dad!” Tom said. “Maybe we’ve got ‘em licked on the quake front. No luck so far, though, on our new project.”
“Well, keep in touch and let me know at once if anything happens,” Mr. Swift urged.
“Right, Dad!” Tom promised.
Again the Swiftsure submerged. This time it was only a few minutes before Arv Hanson gave a cry of warning.
“Something on the sonarscope, skipper!”
Bud, Hank, and Chow hastily gathered around the scope to watch. The blip grew larger rapidly. It was clearly another submarine, closing in on a collision course.
Tom put on a burst of speed, as if attempting to outrace their pursuer. But he was careful to gauge his knots by reports from the sonarscope, in order not to widen the gap between the two
KIDNAPED! 133
craft. There seemed no danger that this would happen, although the Swiftsure raced ahead faster and faster. Still the enemy sub continued to close in like a marauding shark, finally passing Tom’s craft.
“Some baby!” Bud muttered respectfully.
The words were hardly out of his mouth when a missile streaked across their bow, in plain view through the Swiftsure’s transparent nose. Its foaming wake rocked the jetmarine.
“They’re attacking us!” Bud cried out.
Tom slammed shut the turbine throttle, bringing his craft to a gliding halt in the water. At the same time, he switched on the sonarphone.