face masks as the knifelike hull and conning

it up to? Were the two young skin div

ts crew

e caught Bud's eye again and motioned upwar

aped the word silently

to betray a hostile intent. It blew its tanks and planed upward in pursuit. But Tom and Bud easi

mask as they broke water. "That

not stick around here, either! We'l

rgue. "Where

t was hard to believe that an enemy submarine was hot on their tra

Tom said, pointing north-no

unged back in. On a sloping downward course, they sped along like undersea rocket

past. The air lock opened speedily and the two boys entered

?" Chow asked, s

rungarian more than likely. It may be h

rtled. "We've picked

ain," Tom

stened intently over the hydrophones. Neit

ast time," Tom said grimly. "We'd better clea

ile the boys changed quickly into slacks and T shirts

tail an' run every time them varmints come skulkin' a

e our own craft invisible, so to speak. It's the only way to protect our Ame

kipper?" Bud put in. "This

. Spe

ur hydrolung gear? If I hadn't been close enough to grab you

om agreed. "I'll

al back to Enterprises, where Tom phoned a full report on the mystery sub to th

om and Bud. Instead of engaging in conversation, they retired to Sandy's room upstairs to play

epulsive or something?"

of roast beef. "Search me. We sure don't

marks in the kitchen, smiled but

d his forehead. "Go

grin of interest. "We

ad a date this afternoon, remember? That beach party

really did pull a boner thi

ways to make amends. Boxes of chocolates? Flowers?

e up with somethin

nd see if we can't dream up something by

tion as he drove to the plant in his sports

old-fashioned square dance Tuesday nig

a! We'll invite a whole gang, get Chow to handl

soon as possible, they invited Sandy and Phyl out to lunch that da

beach party," Tom said sheepishly. "But w

ther, their eyes twinkling

en completely!

a date?"

rned. "Phyl and I are going right over to Dorman's Depar

Enterprises. Later that afternoon a telephone call interrupted Tom as he wor

The name did not register with Tom at first until his caller added, "I

ance orchestra leader in and around Shopton. He was al

kle. "News must travel fast. We just

ed for the job, offering to provide a small combo of country-style players. His asking price sou

ng," the young inventor

me into the laboratory a while later. The boys talked o

erwater talkie

o difficult," he replied. "It's mostly a job of adapting the

nar transducer on the exterior. The receiving transducers would feed from amplifiers to earphones. The hookup w

om," Bud said.

handed Bud a penciled sketch from the workbench, adding, "Then drill the holes for the mikes and

ing the tiny electronic parts. In two

a grin of satisfaction. "Go get your swim trunk

a! Be back

Before adjusting his face mask, Tom mentioned that he had inserted scr

, it'll sound like chop suey

er communication system a thorough check-out. It worked perfectly. Ten min

arging into the lab, with a crowd of workmen and techn

, Chow?" Tom