Telling Tom to go up, Rawlins half lifted the unconscious man and with a gruff warning to his fellow started to mount the rungs. Evidently the words were heard by the anxious, waiting boys above, for Tom heard Frank’s shout of joy and he called back as he drew himself towards the open trap.
But before his head emerged from the water, a crash like thunder sounded in his ears, there was
a sound of tramping, hurrying footsteps, shouts and cries and Tom’s brain reeled. What was happening? Had the men’s confederates learned of their capture? Were their fellows breaking into the laboratory to rescue them? Were the ruffians wreaking vengeance on Frank and Henry?
[CHAPTER X—RADIO WINS]
As the confused sounds, the crash, the tramp of rushing feet, the excited men’s voices and Frank’s high-pitched tones came dimly to Tom’s ears, a deadly sickening fear swept over him. Had they escaped the men from the submarine only to fall into the clutches of their confederates?
He had been under a tremendous strain, he had been terribly frightened, his heart had been almost bursting with excitement and he had been under water for much longer than ever before. The combination was too much for him. His head swam, he reeled, swayed; fiery sparks and flashes seemed to dance before his eyes; he felt a numbness stealing over him. Wildly he clutched at the ladder in a last despairing effort and seemed sinking, slowly, softly into a vast billowy void.
He opened his eyes and uttered a surprised cry.
He was lying on the floor of the laboratory and his father, anxious-eyed, was bending over him while close at hand were Frank, Henry and Rawlins. Beyond and as a confused mass Tom’s eyes saw blue-clad figures and with a start he rose to a sitting posture.
“Gosh!” he exclaimed, staring about and for the moment not comprehending. “What’s the matter, Dad? What’s happened?”
“Are you all right, Tom?” asked Mr. Pauling. “We got you just in time. You fainted just as you reached the ladder top. Don’t you remember?”