Appleton, Victor – Tom Swift Jr 18 – And the Electronic Hydrolung

Soon after lunch, Tom, Bud, and Arv took off

THE GUNMAN’S SURPRISE 155

for Fearing Island. When they arrived at the base, the plastic coating with its myriad tiny “mikes” and “speakers” was speedily applied to a jetmarine under Arv’s supervision. Tom, meanwhile, wired the control unit and also installed the analyzer sonar in the Sea Hound.

“Want to be ‘It’ for another underwater game of hide-and-seek?” Tom asked Bud with a grin. “Sure, but don’t tag me with a torpedo!” Minutes later, the jetmarine slipped off into the depths with Bud and two other crewmen aboard.

Tom and Arv followed in the seacopter. The quality analyzer sonar worked even better than Tom had hoped. He not only tracked the jetmarine on its outward course, but located it three different times after shutting off the analyzer long enough for Bud to seek a new location. “How’d you like to relieve Hank in the South Atlantic?” Tom asked Bud upon their return. Bud gave a whoop of excitement. “Rogerl” Tom slapped him on the back. “You can take off as soon as your ship’s provisioned. I’ll join you later-but first,” Tom added mysteriously, “I have another job to attend to.”

CHAPTER XVII

A MISSING AMULET

BUD’S curiosity was instantly aroused. “Don’t tell me you have a new trick up your nautical sleeve to fox the Brungarians?”

Tom grinned. “That’s the general idea. I hope to give hydrolung divers the same protection that your jetmarine has.”

“You mean make them invisible to sonar?”

“Yes,” Tom replied, “and also give them personal spy gear to probe the waters around them and spot an ‘undetectable’ enemy.”