Hardley was in very evident distress.
Suddenly, however, something happened. The M. N. 1 gave a lurch
to one side and then shot upward so quickly that Ned and Mr.
Damon lost their balance and slumped over on the bench that ran
around three sides of the room.
"Are we free?" cried Mr. Hardley.
"We have come loose from the mud bank," said Tom quietly. "By
boring into it the hole was enlarged sufficiently to enable us to
pull loose. There is no more danger!"
His announcement was received in momentary silence, and then
Ned exclaimed:
"Hurray!"
"Bless my accident policy!" voiced Mr. Damon.
Mr. Hardley appeared dazed, and then, as the submarine was
again moving through the water, seemingly none the worse for the
accident, the gold seeker approached Tom Swift.
"I want to apologize, Mr. Swift, for my actions and words,"
said Mr. Hardley frankly. "I admit that I lost my head. But it's
my first trip in a submarine."
"I realize that," said Tom, equally frank, "and we'll forget
all about it. It was a strain on you--on all of us--though there
really was no very great danger.
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