"Why did you fire on us?" shouted the agent angrily.
"Why did you follow us?" retorted Torn.
"Well, you've broken our rudder and disabled us," went on
Berg, not answering the question. "You'll suffer for this!
I'll have you arrested."
"You only got what you deserved," added Mr. Swift. "You
were acting illegally, following us, and you tried to sink
us by ramming my craft before we retaliated by firing on
you."
"It was an accident, ramming you," said Berg. "We couldn't
help it. I now demand that you help us make repairs."
"Well, you've got nerve!" cried Captain Weston, his eyes
flashing. "I'd like to have a personal interview with you
for about ten minutes. Maybe something besides your ship
would need repairs then."
Berg turned away, scowling, but did not reply. He began
directing the crew what to do about the broken rudder.
"Come on," proposed Tom in a low voice, for sounds carry
very easily over water. "Let's go below and skip out while
we have a chance. They can't follow now, and we can get to
the sunken treasure ahead of them."
"Good advice," commented his father. "Come, Captain
Weston, we'll go below and close the conning tower."
Five minutes later the Advance sank from sight, the last
glimpse Tom had of Berg and his men being a sight of them
standing on the deck of their floating boat, gazing in the
direction of their successful rival.
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