not one of the party but felt quite confident that they would soon stand on terra firma above the sea.

there was every indication that land was just before them.

“bejabers, i hope its a civilized land we’ll foind, and divil a cannibal,” said barney. “i’ve no taste for bein’ ate up in mishtake fer a lobster as soon as iver i cum out av the wather!”

“golly, dey would neber eat yo’ fo’ dat, i’ish!” grunted pomp. “i’se dead suah ob dat.”

“shure, they’d run for their loives if iver they saw you coming out av the say.”

but there was no time for argument, so it was dropped for the time being, and all made ready.

the dart was securely anchored, and then lots were drawn to see who should remain aboard.

as chance had it, it fell to the lot of captain bell.

the terrified captain turned white as a corpse and groaned aloud.

barney saw this and said:

“shure, sor, yez kin go along with the rist. i’ll sthay.”

and so the cowardly captain was relieved in a measure of his fears. but the respect of the others for him was greatly diminished.

however, frank had arranged it so that the one left aboard the dart should not be cut off from communication with the others.

he carried a small spool of thin wire and a battery.

as he would proceed, this could be paid out, and with a small ticker a message could be easily sent to the dart.

this was a certain way of informing barney when they should reach the land, and also the celt could easier gain the shore by simply following up the wire.

the searchlight’s glare was thrown as far as possible up over the reefs, so that the course could easily be seen.

if the shore was successfully reached and it was not far distant, all of the valuable effects of the dart could thus be saved.

at last all was ready, and then the party left the anchored boat.

quickly they began to climb the reefs.

up and up they went.

it was fearfully slow work, and they were obliged to pause many times to rest.

but at length they saw what they believed was the light of day above.

then the reefs began to assume a smoother character.

there was a regular motion to the waves, which was a certainty that they were nearing the surface.

frank reade, jr., and pomp were in the advance.

indeed, they would have reached the surface much quicker but for the necessity of constantly turning to look out for the two older men.

they came along more slowly.

in fact, bell was hardly able to climb the reefs.

but after awhile the motion of the water became such that they were able plainly to realize that the surface was but a few feet above.

frank was the first to emerge from the water. his head came above the surface suddenly. he looked about.

the scene which met his gaze was far different from what he had expected.

there was no long line of coast, no inviting shore with tropical foliage and high cliffs of stone.

naught but the dreary, boundless, tossing waste of waters was to be seen as far as the eye could reach.

the reef cropped up just high enough so that the lightest waves combed over it. frank crawled upon it and stood in several inches of water.

it was a solitary reef in the midst of the ocean.

just this and nothing more. so far as offering an asylum or means of rescue to the explorers, this was out of the question.

it would not be even safe for them to remain upon the reef long.

for a stiff gale was threatening, and they could hardly hope to cling to the reef without harm.

not a sail was in sight. neither was there much likelihood that this was in the path of sailing vessels, else it would have been marked with a buoy.

all drew themselves out of the water and stood for a time upon the submerged reef looking blankly around.

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!” cried pomp, as he looked about, “i don’t fink we cud swim dat stretch berry easy.”

“no, i think not,” agreed frank. “it is a little too vast.”

then the situation was discussed.

“i don’t see that we have gained anything by this discovery,” said von bulow. “have we?”

“not a thing,” agreed frank.

“we are no better off than before.”

“but very little.”

“do you think there is any possibility of hailing a passing vessel?”

“there is perhaps in time. it may be a lifetime, though.”

“then we had better return to the dart and make another try.”

“yes.”

“hold on!” said bell. “i object to that.”

“oh, do you?”

“yes.”

“what plan have you to propose?”

“stay right here and look for a passing ship. 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?”

“yes.”

all looked astonished.

“that will be suicide.”

“then you will be responsible for my life!”

frank looked at von bulow, and the latter winked.

“come on, friends,” he said; “we wish you luck, captain. no doubt you will succeed in hailing a ship.”

von bulow proceeded to adjust his helmet. the others did the same and slid under the water.

half-way down the reef von bulow pressed frank’s arm.

the young inventor looked back.

bell was just behind.

the captain’s little game of bluff did not work worth a cent. everybody was onto his ways after that.

very soon the glare of the searchlight was seen below.

frank had signaled barney several times, and knew that all was well.

very soon the party came in sight of the dart.

then they safely reached the vestibule and were soon in the cabin after some thrilling experiences.

another discussion was now held as to what it was best to do.

frank settled it by going into the pilot-house and backing the dart off the reef.

then he started to make a circuit of the reef.

suddenly, as the boat was gliding smoothly along, an object loomed up in the gloom.

the searchlight was brought to bear upon it, and it was seen to be a sunken hulk.

no doubt it had fallen a victim to the treacherous reef.

“a sunken vessel!” cried von bulow. “here, bell, here’s a chance to get your treasure.”

the captain was now all eagerness.

“hurrah!” he cried; “that is so!”

frank brought the dart to a stop.

“golly, marse frank!” exclaimed pomp, in surprise, “am yo’ gwine to visit dat wreck?”

“yes,” replied frank.

“wha’ fo’, sah?”

“to satisfy captain bell.”

“but fo’ goodness sake, sah, if dar was any treasure on bo’d, yo’ cudn’t take it away wif yo’!”

but frank’s word was law; the dart was anchored.

“barney,” he said, “you and the captain may go. look out for the captain.”

“all right, sor.”

captain bell was elated.

he had a queer sort of mania for treasure hunting, and he forgot all about the perils lately threatening in this desire.

barney was not loth to go.

the celt was inordinately fond of adventure, and here was a chance to distinguish himself.

so he put on his diving suit, and with captain bell left the dart.

they soon reached the wreck and clambered aboard.

she was evidently some sort of a trading vessel, and had not been many months under the water.

her rigging and spars were strewn about the deck.

there was every indication that she had gone down in a storm, and by striking on the reef.

barney put his helmet close to bell’s and cried:

“shure phwat do yez think av it now, me frind?”

“i don’t know hardly,” replied bell. “it looks to me as if she was a trader.”

“yis, sor.”

“but there may be treasure aboard her, all the same.”

“yez are roight!”

“we will take a good look.”

“i’m wid yez.”

“let us go down into the cabin.”

“lead on, sor.”

this bell proceeded to do.

he led the way to the hatch, and then began to descend the stairs.

all had been dark in the cabin, but the lights on their helmets displaced the gloom.

and as they reached the bottom stair and their helmet lights illumined the place, a horrible sight was revealed.

the cabin seemed literally filled with dead bodies.