To this unexpected revelation Dick Sand could not reply. Besides, Mrs. Weldon had gone back at once to her place beside little . She evidently did not wish to say any more about it, and the young had not the courage to detain her.  
Thus Mrs. Weldon knew what to believe. The various incidents, of the way had enlightened her also, and perhaps, too, that word, "Africa!" so unluckily pronounced the night before by Cousin Benedict.
 
"Mrs. Weldon knows everything," repeated Dick Sand to himself. "Well, perhaps it is better so. The brave woman does not despair. I shall not despair either."
 
Dick Sand now longed for day to return, that he might explore the surroundings of this village. He must find a of the Atlantic with a rapid course to transport all his little troop. He had a that this watercourse could not be far distant. Above all, they must avoid an encounter with the natives, perhaps already sent in pursuit of them under Harris's and Negoro's direction.
 
But it was not day yet. No light made its way into the through the lower orifice. Rumblings, rendered low by the thickness of the walls, indicated that the storm still raged. Listening, Dick Sand also heard the rain falling with violence at the base of the ant-hill. As the large drops no longer struck a hard soil, he must conclude that the whole plain was .
 
It must have been about eleven o'clock. Dick Sand then felt that a kind of , if not a true sleep, was going to overcome him. It would, however, be rest. But, just as he was yielding to it, the thought came to him that, by the settling of the clay, washed in, the lower orifice was likely to be . All passage for the outer air would be closed. Within, the of ten persons would soon vitiate the air by loading it with carbonic acid.
 
Dick Sand then slipped to the ground, which had been raised by the clay from the first floor of cells.
 
That cushion was still dry, and the orifice free. The air freely to the interior of the cone, and with it some flashes of lightning, and the loud noises of that storm, that a diluvian rain could not extinguish.
 
Dick Sand saw that all was well. No danger seemed to menace these human , substituted for the colony of newroptera. The young novice then thought of himself by a few hours' sleep, as he already felt its influence. Only with precaution Dick Sand lay on that bed of clay, at the bottom of the cone, near the narrow .
 
By this means, if any accident happened outside, he would be the first to remark it. The rising day would also him, and he would be ready to begin the exploration of the plain.
 
Dick Sand lay down then, his head against the wall, his gun under his hand, and almost immediately he was asleep.
 
How long this lasted he could not tell, when he was by a lively sensation of coolness.
 
He rose and recognized, not without great anxiety, that the water was invading the ant hill, and even so rapidly, that in a few seconds it would reach the story of cells occupied by Tom and Hercules.
 
The latter, awakened by Dick Sand, were told about this new complication.
 
The lighted lantern soon showed the interior of the cone.
 
The water had stopped at a height of about five feet, and remained .
 
"What is the matter, Dick?" asked Mrs. Weldon.
 
"It is nothing," replied the young novice. "The lower part of the cone has been inundated. It is probably that during this storm a neighboring river has on this plain."
 
"Good!" said Hercules; "that proves the river is there!"
 
"Yes," replied Dick Sand, "and it will carry us to the coast. Be , then, Mrs. Weldon; the water cannot reach you, nor little Jack, nor Nan, nor Mr. Benedict."
 
Mrs. Weldon did not reply. As to the cousin, he slept like a veritable termite.
 
Meanwhile the blacks, leaning over this sheet of water, which reflected the lantern's light, waited for Dick Sand to indicate to them what should be done. He was measuring the height of the .
 
After having the provisions and arms put out of the reach of the inundation, Dick Sand was silent.
 
"The water has penetrated by the orifice," said Tom.
 
"Yes," replied Dick Sand, "and now it prevents the interior air from being renewed."
 
"Could we not make a hole in the wall above the level of the water?" asked the old black.
 
"Doubtless, Tom; but if we have five feet of water within, there are perhaps six or seven, even more, without."
 
"You think, Mr. Dick—?"
 
"I think, Tom, that the water, rising inside the ant-hill, has compressed the air in the upper part, and that this air now makes an obstacle to prevent the water from rising higher. But if we pierce a hole in the wall by which the air would escape, either the water would still rise till it reached the outside level, or if it passed the hole, it would rise to that point where the compressed air would again keep it back. We must be here like workmen in a diving-bell."
 
"What must be done?" asked Tom.
 
"Reflect well before acting," replied Dick Sand. "An imprudence might cost us our lives!"
 
The young novice's observation was very true.
 
In comparing the cone to a submerged bell, he was right. Only in that the air is constantly renewed by means of pumps. The breathe comfortably, and they suffer no other inconveniences than those resulting from a prolonged in a compressed atmosphere, no longer at a normal pressure.
 
But here, beside those inconveniences, space was already reduced a third by the invasion of the water. As to the air, it would only be renewed if they put it in communication with the outer atmosphere by means of a hole.
 
Could they, without running the danger spoken of by Dick Sand, pierce that hole? Would not the situation be by it?
 
What was certain was, that the water now rested at a level which only two causes could make it exceed, namely: if they pierced a hole, and the level of the rising waters was higher outside, or if the height of this rising water should still increase. In either of these cases, only a narrow space would remain inside the cone, where the air, not renewed, would be still more compressed.
 
But might not the ant-hill be torn from the ground and by the inundation, to the extreme danger of those within it? No, no more than a beaver's hut, so firmly did it adhere by its base.
 
Then, the event most to be feared was the of the storm, and, consequently, the increase of the inundation. Thirty feet of water on the plain would cover the cone with eighteen feet of water, and bear on the air within with the pressure of an atmosphere.
 
Now, after reflecting well upon it, Dick Sand was led to fear that this inundation might increase .
 
In fact, it could not be due to that poured out by the clouds. It seemed more probable that a neighboring watercourse, by the storm, had burst its banks, and was spreading over this plain lying below it. What proof had they that the ant-hill was not then entirely submerged, and that it was full time to leave it by the top part, which would not be difficult to ?
 
Dick Sand, now extremely anxious, asked himself what he ought to do. Must he wait or suddenly announce the probable result of the situation, after the condition of things?
 
It was then three o'clock in the morning. All, motionless, silent, listened. The noise from outside came very feebly through the obstructed orifice. All the time a dull sound, strong and continued, well indicated that the contest of the elements had not ceased.
 
At that moment old Tom observed that the water level was gradually rising.
 
"Yes," replied Dick Sand, "and if it rises, as the air cannot escape from within, it is because the rising of the waters increases and presses it more and more."
 
"It is but slight so far," said Tom.
 
"Without doubt," replied Dick Sand; "but where will this level stop?"
 
"Mr. Dick," asked Bat, "would you like me to go out of the ant-hill?
By diving, I should try to slip out by the hole."
"It will be better for me to try it," replied Dick Sand.
 
"No, Mr. Dick, no," replied old Tom, quickly; "let my son do it, and trust to his skill. In case he could not return, your presence is necessary here."
 
Then, lower:
 
"Do not forget Mrs. Weldon and little Jack."
 
"Be it so," replied Dick Sand. "Go, then, Bat. If the ant-hill is submerged, do not seek to enter it again. We shall try to come out as you will have done. But if the cone still emerges, strike on its top with the ax that you will take with you. We will hear you, and it will be the signal for us to demolish the top from our side. You understand?"
 
"Yes, Mr. Dick," replied Bat.
 
"Go, then, boy," added old Tom, pressing his son's hand.
 
Bat, after laying in a good provision of air by a long , under the liquid mass, whose depth then exceeded five feet. It was a rather difficult task, because he would have to seek the lower orifice, slip through it, and then rise to the outside surface of............