A Mr. Dixwell Hardley approaches Tom with a proposition to help recover sunken treasure. Mr. Hardley was on board a ship which was carrying gold to help finance an illegal revolution. When the ship sank, Mr. Hardley overheard the captain recording the coordinates. Now he wants Tom's help to recover the gold, under the guise of both financing the expedition as well as rewarding Tom with a portion of the recovered treasure. Unfortunately for Tom, after agreeing to the expedition, he learns that Mr. Hardley is a con-artist, who recently scammed someone out of the oil well rights. Making matters worse, the victim is Barton Keith, a relative of Mary Nestor. Rather than cancel the expedition, Tom decides to carry on in the hopes of restoring Mr. Keith's claims to the oil wells.
Victor Appleton was a house pseudonym used by the Stratemeyer Syndicate and its successors, most famous for being associated with the Tom Swift series of books. The following series have been published under the Victor Appleton name: Tom Swift (1910-1941), Motion Picture Chums (1913-1916), Moving Picture Boys (1913-1922), Movie Boys (1926-1927), Don Sturdy (1925-1935), Tom Swift, Jr. (1954-1971) (technically, ""Victor Appleton II""), Tom Swift (Third Series) (1981-1984) and Tom Swift (Fourth Series) (1991-1993). Contract authors of these books writing under the name ""Victor Appleton"" included James Duncan Lawrence, Howard Roger Garis, John W. Duffield, W. Bert Foster, Debra Doyle with James D. Macdonald, F. Gwynplaine MacIntyre, Robert E. Vardeman, Thomas M. Mitchell.
Victor Appleton's 'Tom Swift and His Undersea Search; Or, the Treasure on the Floor of the Atlantic' is a thrilling adventure novel that takes readers on an exciting journey into the depths of the ocean. Written in a fast-paced and engaging style, the book captures the imagination of readers with its vivid descriptions of undersea exploration and treasure-hunting expeditions. Set in a time when submarine technology was still in its infancy, the story provides a fascinating glimpse into the early 20th century scientific advancements and exploratory spirit that fueled the era. Appleton's attention to detail and technical knowledge adds authenticity to the narrative, making it an enlightening read for those interested in marine exploration and adventure fiction. The book not only offers entertainment but also serves as a reflection of the cultural and technological landscape of its time. Victor Appleton, a pseudonym used by the Stratemeyer Syndicate, was a collective of authors who wrote popular series books for young readers during the early 20th century. The Tom Swift series, of which this book is a part of, featured the eponymous teenage inventor who embarks on daring adventures and solves mysteries with his innovative inventions. Appleton's background in engineering and science likely inspired the creation of the character and the inclusion of technical details in the story. 'Tom Swift and His Undersea Search' is highly recommended for readers who enjoy adventurous tales, technical marvels, and a glimpse into the historical context of early 20th century America.
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Mr. Dixwell Hardley suggested that Tom help him recover the sunken treasure. Mr. Hadley boarded a ship with gold to help finance an illegal revolution. When the ship sank, Mr. Hadley heard the captain record the coordinates. Now, he hopes that Tom can recover gold in the name of financing the expedition and reward Tom with partially recovered treasure.
CHAPTER I UNTOLD MILLIONS "Tom, this is certainly wonderful reading! Over a hundred million dollars' worth of silver at the bottom of the ocean! More than two hundred million dollars in gold! To say nothing of fifty millions in copper, ten millions in-" "Say, hold on there, Ned! Hold on! Where do you get that stuff; as the boys say? Has something gone wrong with one of the adding machines, or is it just on account of the heat? What's the big idea, anyhow? How many millions did you say?" and Tom Swift, the talented young inventor, looked at Ned Newton, his financial manager, with a quizzical smile. "It's all right, Tom! It's all right!" declared Ned, and it needed but a glance to show that he was more serious than was his companion. "I'm not suffering from the heat, though the thermometer is getting close to ninety-five in the shade. And if you want to know where I get 'that stuff' read this!" He tossed over to his chum, employer, and friend-for Tom Swift assumed all three relations toward Ned Newton-part of a Sunday newspaper. It was turned to a page containing a big illustration of a diver attired in the usual rubber suit and big helmet, moving about on the floor of the ocean and digging out boxes of what was supposed to be gold from a sunken wreck. "Oh, that stuff!" exclaimed Tom, with a smile of disbelief as he saw the source of Ned's information. "Seems to me I've read something like that before, Ned!" "Of course you have!" agreed the young financial manager of the newly organized Swift Construction Company. "It isn't anything new. This wealth of untold millions has been at the bottom of the sea for many years-always increasing with nobody ever spending a cent of it. And since the Great War this wealth has been enormously added to because of the sinking of so many ships by German submarines." "Well, what's that got to do with us, Ned?" asked Tom, as he looked over some blue prints and other papers on his desk, for the talk was taking place in his office. "You and I did our part in the war, but I don't see what all this undersea wealth has to do with us. We've got our work cut out for us if we take care of all the new contracts that came in this week." "Yes, I know," admitted Ned. "But I couldn't help calling your attention to this article, Tom. It's authentic!" "Authentic? What do you mean? "Well, the man who wrote it went to the trouble of getting from the ship insurance companies a list of all the wrecks and lost vessels carrying gold and silver coin, bullion, and other valuables. He has gone back a hundred years, and he brings it right down to just before the war. Hasn't had time to compile that list, the article says. But without counting the vessels the Germans sank, there is, in various places on the bottom of the ocean today, wrecks of ships that carried, when they went down, gold, silver, copper and other metals to the value of at least ten billions of dollars!" Tom Swift did not seem to be at all surprised by the explosive emphasis with which Ned Newton conveyed this information....