Frank Reade, Jr., left in the cabin of the sunken galleon was certainly in a position which it is hardly possible for one to adequately realize.

All hope seemed lost.

The failure of his friends to return or open the hatch had satisfied him that their fate was sealed.

His one aim now was to get out of the galleon’s cabin.

So he rained blow after blow with his ax upon the closed hatch. But it seemed obdurate.

Above one layer of planks was another.

This was discouraging.

Yet he kept on and after a long period of fatiguing work actually succeeded in cutting a hole through the hatch.

But as he did so his ax sunk into some substance which moved and fell in some quantity. It was sand.

“Mercy!” muttered the despair-stricken man, “it is true that the sand has again covered the deck up.”

45In this event his efforts to dig his way out would be futile.

He was aweary and exhausted. In fact, he had barely strength enough left to creep down the ladder.

A strange drowsiness came over him. He could not resist it.

He crept back to the captain’s cabin and sank down upon a couch. Almost instantly he was asleep.

How long he slept he never knew.

When he awoke he started up with a queer sense of his surroundings. In a few moments, however, memory supplied the blank.

Then he looked about him in a hopeless way.

He wondered if rescue had yet come, and arose to open the door into the main cabin.

As he did so he was startled at an unexpected sight.

The hatch was open and a man’s body was just sliding down through it.

“Saved!” gasped the imprisoned man with a wild thrill. Then he ceased to speak.

He stood like one overcome with horror.

“On my word,” he finally managed to mutter, “fate has played it into Parker’s hands after all.”

For it required no second glance for him to see that the new-comer was one of the Aurelian’s crew.

The peculiar fit of his diving suit and the life lines were evidence of this.

For a moment Frank knew not what to do.

Should he face the new-comers and give them battle? He could hardly hope to successfully meet such odds.

What should he do?

In lieu of a better move he stepped behind the captain’s big desk. Through an orifice in the scrolled frame he could see and not be seen.

Down into the main cabin came four of the Aurelian’s men.

They were held at bay for some moments by the ghostly crew of the Veneta. But the love of gold overcame all their scruples finally and they came across to the door of the captain’s room.

They stepped inside, and as Frank had done before them, carefully examined everything.

Fortunately Frank had closed the door to the treasure vault; they did not find this.

46But they came up to the captain’s desk and proceeded to ransack it. Frank watched them intently.

What should he do? In the very indecision of the moment the divers from the Aurelian moved away.

They passed from the captain’s cabin into the forward cabin; for a moment Frank hesitated.

It would have been an easy matter for him to have reached out and cut the life lines of his foes.

But he shrank from such an act of murder with repugnance.

His one purpose was to reach the gangway and get out of the hold of the vessel as soon as possible.

It seemed to him that his best move was to regain the deck of the submarine boat and rejoin his friends as soon as possible.

So, when the divers had passed from the captain’s cabin into the main cabin, he slipped out from his concealment and started for the gangway.

Fatal move!

One of the Aurelian’s men turned just in time to see him. Instantly the fellow raised his ax and hurled it at Frank.

It was at close range, and the blunt head of it struck the young inventor’s helmet.

The shock was sufficient to instantly deprive him of his senses.

He fell like a log.

In a moment his captors were upon him. One of them fiercely raised his ax to brain the defenseless man.

But another caught his arm, and thrusting his helmet against his, shouted:

“Avast there, Parker! Don’t kill him yet!”

“Why not, Warren? Let go of my arm! There is no reason why I should spare his life!”

“Yes, there is!”

“What is it?”

“It is likely that he can give us information in regard to the galleon’s gold. At any rate do not kill him yet, messmate.”

Captain Warren’s admonition had its effect upon Gilbert Parker. The would-be murderer lowered his ax.

“All right, Warren,” he said; “perhaps you’re right after all.”

Frank’s body was lifted up and he was placed upon a rotting 47couch near. He was already regaining his consciousness.

But at this moment Warren gave a start. He placed his helmet to Parker’s and shouted:

“A danger signal from above!”

“What is it?”

“Wait until I can learn.”

Warren was enabled to speak through his tube with those on the Aurelian’s deck.

Presently he turned to Parker and said:

“A hurricane is coming up. Mate Clark has already got the anchor under way, and has recalled our boat.”

“Then we have got to give up the search for now?”

“Yes.”

“But how can we escape the hurricane?”

“Make for Miller’s Cay, which is within sight of the ship’s masthead. We can then return and reclaim the galleon’s gold.”

The diving lines did not proceed from the Aurelian’s deck, but from a small launch which was moored at some little distance from the ship.

So when the crew of the Dolphin saw the Aurelian weigh anchor the divers were not aboard her, nor did they get aboard until some while later.

A consultation was held as to what it was best to do with their captive.

“Take off his weights and take him aboard with us,” cried Parker.

“No!” objected Warren.

“I have a better plan.”

“Ah, what is it?”

“Leave him here. Batten down the hatches and let him stay until we return. Bind him so that he cannot move!”

“Capital!” cried Parker. “W............