mean the small one?"

"No, the largest. The improved one."

"Right, sir! Here you are!"

"Do you mean to say you are going out there, where that monster is, and
attack it with a gun?" asked Mr. Hardley.

"That's what I'm going to do!" answered Tom, as he began to put on the
suit of steel and rubber, an example followed by Koku.

"But you may be attacked by the monster! You may be killed! You are
risking your life!" cried the gold seeker.

"I know it." Tom spoke simply. "Ned would do the same for me!"

"But hold on!" cried Mr. Hardley. "If you are killed there will be no
one to navigate this boat to the place of the wreck! You can't desert
this way!"

Tom gave the man one look of contempt. "You need have, no fears," he
said. "This submarine is under international maritime laws. If I die,
Captain Nelson, the next in command, takes charge, and the original
orders will be carried out. If it is possible to get the gold for you
it will be done. Now let me alone. I've got work to do!"

"Bless my apple cart, Tom, that's the way to talk!" exclaimed Mr.
Damon, and he, too, for the first time, seemed ready to break with
Hardley. "If I were a bit younger I'd go out with you myself and help
save Ned."

"Koku and I can do it--if he's still alive!" murmured the young
inventor. "Lively now, boys! Is that gun ready?"

"Yes, and doubly charged," was the answer. "Good! I may need it. Koku,
take a gun also!"

"Me take axe, Master," replied the giant.

"Well, perhaps that will be better," Tom agreed. "If two of us get to
shooting under the water we may hit one another. Quick, now! The
helmets. And, Nash, you work the big searchlight!"

"Aye, aye, sir!" answered the sailor.

The helmets were now put on, and any further orders Tom had to give
must come through the telephone, and it was by that same medium that he
must listen to the talk of his friends. It was possible for the divers
to talk and listen to one another while in the water by means of these
peculiarly constructed telephones.

"All ready, Koku?" asked Tom.

"All ready, Master," answered the giant, as he grasped his keen axe.

The inner door of the diving chamber was now opened, and, the water
having been pumped out of the chamber since Ned and the sailor had
emerged, it was ready for Tom and Koku. They entered, the door was
closed, and presently they felt the pressure of water all about them,
the sea being admitted through valves in the outer door.

While t