Tom Swift and the Electronic Hydrolung

anger. But it was too late. His cellmate, by answering

exchanged gri

ntage. "Or should I say the late Streffan Mirov? Our last report was that he had been

can, Tom Swift! Because of you, my brother Streffan is now servi

botched his job of claiming the satellite

Tom added. "We claimed it by right of first landing. Even your own le

ol and burst into a volley o

"Jailing us will not make you

back against the wall. "Fool! Maybe that will quiet you!" t

es. "We've learned the i

ge through the cell bars as Tom and the secu

id off." Chief Slater added his congratulations when he he

hey drove back to the plant. Neit

rian rebels perhaps responsible for the att

, "it's a cinch they haven't thrown their last punch.

ed job of rooting the space plants into the undersea silt beds. Zimby Cox, a san

m site. Tom and Bud donned their hydrolung gear and went o

rvals. The Tomasite-producing plants had been almost completely devoured. A few fish were darting abou

om said with a pleased chuckle when the boys fi

thoughtfully. "But if you ask me, skipper, fishes a

ani

they were after when they pulled that aerial hijack att

n audio screen set up around this whole area. That'll a

to the mainland. When Tom reached his office, he

b for me,

urry-up deals, Gib," he said with an apologetic grin. Tom explained his plan. "We'll

d nodded. "Right. We can have i

fice, the telephone jan

nt news, Tom. One of our subs has picked up a clue that

f clue, sir?

l Walter added that photographs and a section of the caisson were being flown to the Naval Research Laborat

y than ever. The report came through the following morn

ropped into the office with some fli

n." Tom shoved the pa

son indicated that it was of Brungarian origin. A spectrographic analysis of the steels con

. "Well, at least we know now wh

ud added, "What do you suppose t

eavy, rotating search equipmen

hy dit

they spotted our Navy search force and pull

mistic explanat

"No need for them to stick around if

thought. "Oh, no! T

get to work on a non-detectable sub, like the one that attacked us.

wn in the So

like to know if they

! We could use the electronic hydrolung

speed to cover the area. So first I wan

familiar with ion propulsion for spacesh

it may work out," Tom replied. He seized a pe

electric field. Thus a stream of water would be forced out. This procedure, in turn, would set up

n submarines!"

newest invention. The idea was simple enough in itself, Tom felt. The main problem would be the

from Mrs. Swift. By midmorning the next day, Tom had assembled a pilot model of his ion-drive jet. In appea

and the ion drive was mounted on a unitrack running the length of it. Tom set up his control board alongside,

edboat in a bathtub!" Tom thought with a

rack. Then Tom metered out power slowly. With a gentle whoosh, the i

pleased grin on his face. "

opened the switch wider. He had just started across the

f the tank by the powerful water-jet exhaust