"We have run into a mud bank," said Tom. "The steersman must
have become confused, or else, since we last used the submarine,
there has been a shift of the mud banks in this river and one
exists where there was none before. At any rate, we ran our nose
deep into it, and here we are--stuck!"

"Can't we get loose--go up to the surface?"
demanded Mr. Hardley.

"I'm trying to bring that about," announced Tom calmly. "So far
her engines haven't been able to pull her loose."

"But Great Scott, man, we can't stay here!" cried the now
excited adventurer. "We'll be drowned like rats in a trap! Let me
out! Isn't there some way? I'll be shot through a torpedo tube,
if necessary! I must get out! I can't stay here to be drowned! I
have too much at stake!"

"Now wait a minute!" calmly advised Tom Swift. "You haven't any
more at stake than the rest of us. None of us wants to be
drowned, and there is only a remote possibility that we shall be.
I haven't played all my cards yet. We can live on this boat for a
week, if need be."

"You mean under water as we are now?" asked Mr. Hardley.

"Yes. I always keep the boat provisioned and with plenty of air
and water for a long stay, if need be," replied Tom. "And I did
not overlook the fact that we might have an accident on the trial
trip."