Luis Senarens

“ At almost the same moment Frank saw the distant glare of the searchlight on the Dart.
A great cry burst from him.
He rushed to the companionway and made excited signs to the others.
At once they rushed upon deck.
The excitement was intense.
There was no doubt but that it was the Dart returning. All waited eagerly, hoping and praying that it would not pass them by.
And as fortune had it, it did not.
Presently its course seemed changed somewhat and it apparently bore down upon the hulk.
“We are saved!” cried Frank.
“Heaven has not deserted us,” said Von Bulow, joyously. ”

“ The travelers took a final walk on deck, and then the doors were hermetically closed.
Frank stepped into the pilot-house and pulled the reservoir valve.
Instantly the Dart began to settle.
Down she went with a graceful plunge. There was a peculiar jolting, jarring motion as she displaced the water.
Then the electric lights flashed forth. Those on board beheld a wonderful sight.
About them were the wonders of the sea.
The bed of the ocean lay below, replete with aquatic life and growth. The electric glare extended many hundred feet in all directions.
The Dart rested upon a small coral reef. ”

“ The Vestal Virgin had vanished as completely as if transported bodily to another sphere. Only a mound of sand remained where it had been.
“Great Jericho!” exclaimed Captain Bell, in horror. “What has become of it?”
“Golly, I done fink dat it hab been blowed to pieces!” declared Pomp.
“Bejabers, maybe it’s buried!” said Barney, at a venture.
“Yes,” replied Frank. “It has been buried by the earthquake. No doubt the great revulsion of Nature’s forces has covered it many feet deep with sand.”
“And the treasure ——” began Von Bulow.
“Is gone!” groaned Bell. ”

“ Everybody looked at Pomp in surprise for a moment, and then laughed.
“I am afraid your plan is not the best kind of a one,” declared Frank. “It would be of little use to gain the surface and have no ship there to pick you up, or be out of sight of land. I am afraid you would come down for a permanent thing.”
Pomp looked somewhat aggrieved, at which Barney began to jolly him.
“Begorra, yez are a ganius, naygur!” he cried, hilariously. “Shure, yez take the cake. That’s a foine plan yez have!” ”

“ Then the chemical generators began to show signs of failing.
The appalling truth was presented to the submarine travelers that every moment was drawing them rapidly nearer to the end.
Their lives would be cut short very speedily unless land was reached at no very distant time.
Bell was in a fearful state of mind.
He had earned and well merited the euphonious name of “kicker,” and in many ways excited the ire of the others.
“There’s one thing about it, Bell,” said Von Bulow, severely, “nothing is to be gained by your chronic fault-finding. We shall get out of the woods no sooner.” ”

“ From one part of the sunken city to another the explorers wandered.
Upon every hand new sights were seen and new wonders unfolded.
Upon one building was a marine growth greatly resembling English ivy. It had a most beautiful effect.
Every building had its colony of submarine creatures.
There were all manner of rainbow-hued fish, and monster eels like huge serpents wriggling in the sand. But thus far nothing had been encountered of a dangerous size and character.
For miles the explorers walked in the glare of the searchlight, which quite illumined the whole city. ”

“ They were eagerly examined by the explorers.
The pirates’ treasure was certainly a magnificent one.
The find far exceeded the most sanguine expectations of any who were in the party, particularly Prof. Von Bulow.
“It is beyond belief,” declared the scientist. “I cannot believe but that I am dreaming.”
“No,” declared Captain Bell; “it is a reality. If you don’t believe me, professor, allow me to punch you.” ”

“ Only one was left aboard the Dart, and this was Pomp.
Truly it was a novel experience to walk the streets of a submarine city, but such it was.
The city was evidently constructed long before the days of Moses and the patriarchs, and was an excellent bit of proof of the existence of quite an advanced stage of civilization in that part of the world at that time.
The explorers could almost fancy the shops still filled with rich goods and stuffs in vogue then.
They could imagine the appearance the city must have borne when its streets were thronged with busy people, and all was life and activity. ”

“ Von Bulow was greatly interested in this wonder of the ocean depths—this submarine cave of the great Atlantic Valley.
“There is nothing like it on top of the earth,” he declared. “I would like very much to examine its structure, which has the appearance of being quartz.”
“Quartz!” exclaimed Captain Bell.
“Yes.”
“Not of the gold-bearing species?”
“It is not impossible.”
At once everybody was interested, even Frank himself.
“You shall have your desire, professor,” he declared.
Accordingly the Dart was brought to a stop and rested upon the bed of the cavern. The diving suits were brought out. ”

“ Frank had been deeply interested at this recital. As Captain Bell finished he said:
“I will make every endeavor, be sure, to recover that treasure. If I do, a fair share of it is yours.”
Captain Bell gripped Frank’s hand.
“I hope you will succeed,” he said; “and I feel quite sure you will.”
Then Frank showed the captain over the submarine boat.
He was delighted.
“Upon my word, skipper,” he cried. “I’m an old sea dog and reckoned never to leave the surface of the ocean while in life. But I’d give a good deal to take this v’yage with you.” ”

“ THE SUNKEN WRECK. Frank had recovered quickly and emerged from his place of safety just in time to see the sea serpent strike the Dart.
The young inventor had seen and realized the awful risk which this entailed, and muttered:
“My goodness! We are all lost!”
But the result of the serpent’s attack was indeed gratifying.
And he also saw what he believed to be his opportunity. Drawing his knife he darted after the monster.
It was lying half dormant on the floor of the cavern from the shock which it had received.
But as Frank ran toward the Dart he saw Barney coming toward him. ”

“ The party retraced their steps to the deck. Frank was the first to spring up out of the companionway, and as he did so he was given a startling shock.
Until now the wreck had been flooded with a brilliant light from the searchlight of the Dart.
But this was no longer so.
All was the darkness of the ocean depths about. Nothing could be seen beyond the slight radius made by the light on their helmets. ”

“ All manner of fishes, large and small, even the monster whale, stand in dread of the torpedo.
It was a school of these odd fish which now proved the means of raising the siege.
They came down upon the school of swordfish with demoralizing effects.
In less time than it takes to tell it, every swordfish was far from the spot, and speeding for their lives to other depths.
Prof. Von Bulow saw the torpedoes coming and realized their nature.
He put his helmet against Frank’s and shouted:
“Look out! If those little fiends hit one of us they will knock the breath away.”
Frank aroused Captain Bell. ”

“ The captain particularly was in excellent spirits.
“We are sure to reclaim that million and a half of treasure,” he declared, confidently. “It will be a big haul.”
Von Bulow was promising a hundred different scientific societies specimens from the bed of the sea.
“It will be a big benefit to the world of science,” he declared. “Ah, my soul! I will make great fame!”
Barney and Pomp were anticipating exciting adventures in the deep sea, and Frank was reflecting upon the success of his new invention. ”

“ But Frank put an end to the jar quickly.
“Tut, tut!” he cried. “Don’t let me hear anything of that kind. This is a poor time for quarreling!”
“I am sure,” said Von Bulow; “I think we are well fixed for the emergency before us.”
“So do I,” said Frank; “the chances for our own escape are very good.”
“About one in a million,” said Bell, sarcastically.
“At least we can preserve life for a good long period aboard the Dart,” said Von Bulow. “We have provisions enough for a year, eh, Frank?”
“I think so,” agreed the young inventor. “And much longer if we economize.” ”

“ But this danger had passed and rescue was at hand. Their joy cannot be fully imagined or expressed.
Captain Bell was so overcome by it that he danced a hornpipe on the rotten deck of the old hulk.
Just as soon as the hulk came within the radius of the searchlight’s glare Barney had seen it.
It was the work of but a very few moments for the Celt to change the course of the Dart.
He bore down for the hulk with all speed. As they drew nearer the trio of divers were seen upon the deck.
“Glory fo’ goodness!” cried Pomp, wildly; “we am jes’ gwine fo’ to sabe dose chilluns, I’ish, shuah’s yo’ bo’n!” ”

“ Barney whistled a jig, and Pomp stood on his head with glee.
“We shall live!” cried Captain Bell. “We will find the Virgin next, and then the great treasure is ours.”
Soon the Dart came to a stop not fifty yards away.
The party left the wreck and quickly clambered aboard the submarine boat.
Once more safely in the cabin of the Dart, joy and mutual congratulations followed.
Barney told his story, and Frank spoke warm words of commendation of his course.
“You did just right,” he declared; “the Dart is all right. I can see nothing the matter with her.” ”

“ Pomp made a dive for Barney, but the Celt dodged him.
There would have been a lively ruction between the two, however, but for Frank, who checked them.
“Hold on!” he cried. “None of that. We have too many serious matters on hand just now.”
So the two jokers refrained from any more of this sort of thing. All returned to the cabin.
Bell was exceedingly uneasy.
“I think we made a mistake in coming on this expedition,” he said. “We have sacrificed our lives and gained nothing!”
“You cannot say that,” said Von Bulow. “I have gained many valuable discoveries for science.” ”

“ They removed their helmets, and for the first time in many weeks took a breath of pure air.
“Well, this is not just what we expected, is it?” said Frank.
“Well, hardly,” growled Bell. “I tell you luck is against me.”
“Against you?” asked Von Bulow.
“Yes.”
“Why you more than the rest of us?”
“It’s harder for me.”
“Well,” said the scientist, emphatically, “I can’t agree with you. Take my advice, Bell. Think less of yourself and you will be more cheerful.”
The captain did not see fit to reply to this shot, which was a telling and deserved one.
“Golly, Marse Frank!” ”

“ He is the inventor of so many wonderful machines, for traveling in the air, under water, or anywhere else that the people of this great country were by no means greatly surprised at the announcement which one day went forth that the young inventor had perfected a new submarine boat, and in conjunction with a famous scientist was about to make a trip of exploration through the great Atlantic valley, which is under the sea. ”

“ The dead man undoubtedly was the captain of the brig. Bell made a motion to Barney, who came near.
“We are fools,” he said. “These dead people can’t hurt us!”
“Arrah, but it’s the looks av thim!” declared Barney.
“Hang the looks! They can’t kill. Let us go into the cabin.”
“I’m agreeable, sor.”
“There is no doubt but that he is the captain of the ship.”
“Yis, sor.”
“Then, if there is any treasure aboard, it is in his cabin.”
“I believe yez.”
With this Bell hesitated no longer. He boldly arose and approached the door. ”

“ Tubes went to every part of the cabin with this chemical product, and there was also an apparatus for consuming the vitiated air or gases.
So that the air supply was always of the purest and best.
Truly, the submarine Dart was a wonderful product of the inventor’s skill and ingenuity.
Few, however, could appreciate it more fully than Prof. Von Bulow, who was fairly captivated with it.
“It is a most wonderful thing,” he declared earnestly. “There is nothing in the kaiser’s land like it. You Americans are a wonderful people.”
Frank was besieged with hundreds of applications for various purposes. ”

“ Set a signal. If we go back to the bottom of the sea we’ll never find land again.”
“But we must take the chances.”
“They are against us.”
“Yet I think they are the best.”
Captain Bell demurred, but the majority were with Frank Reade, Jr., and they ruled.
It was decided to return at once to the Dart.
Then they would go again in quest of land.
“I feel sure we shall succeed,” said Frank. “It is only a question of time.”
“I shall-not go!” said Bell, obdurately. “You may if you choose!”
“What!” cried Frank, in surprise; “you mean to remain here?” ”

“ Von Bulow was getting depressed.
“The most of us better make our peace with the Almighty,” he declared. “We shall never get out of this scrape.”
And there the three divers were held imprisoned in the cabin of the sunken ship, while a rescue seemed indeed a hopeless thing.
But let us return to the Dart, and learn the fate which had overtaken it.
Barney and Pomp were faithful and reliable servants.
They were well familiar with the workings of the craft, and no ordinary accident would have troubled them long. ”

“ But the explorers did not pause here long.
They passed through and into the forward cabin. Here was the long mess table, and upon it were dishes and eating utensils, just as the men had been served, which was the last ever eaten on board the ship.
Frank took up one of the plates. In the china was the imperishable mark usually placed upon all ships’ ware with the name:
“Ship Tempest, Baltimore.”
This was all that could be learned of the identity of the vessel or of its mission. Yet it was reasonable to suppose that she was a merchantman. ”

“ But it was not likely that many interesting things would be found down there even if the Dart was able to go.
So none were much disappointed.
The sea soon began to change again.
The water seemed a peculiar olive tint, and Frank, who had studied the phenomena, said:
“We are coming to a submarine forest. You shall see.”
His prediction proved correct.
Soon the tops of trees were seen far below. At least they looked like trees, with branches, foliage and all, but Frank said:
“It is a queer coral formation. A very common mistake is made by divers who consider them petrified.” ”