k away
in the far corner."

"Maybe it has jewels in it!" exclaimed Ned. "If it has--"

At that moment the lookout who had maintained his position in the
conning tower called for Tom on the telephone.

"What is it?" asked the young inventor.

"There's some sort of grappling iron, or cable with a hook on it, being
lowered from the surface, and it's near the wreck," was the answer. "If
it isn't any of your apparatus it may be some other ship having a try
for the gold."

"It must be Hardley!" cried Tom. "He's come back with another ship, as
he half threatened to do, and, instead of diving for the wreck, which
he can't get ordinary men to do in this depth, he's trying to grapple
for it. Come on, we'll have a look!"

Ned and Mr. Damon followed Tom to the conning tower. Looking out
through the heavy glass windows, while the searchlight illuminated the
waters, the young inventor and his friends saw a great grappling iron
swaying this way and that through the sea not far from the wreck, and
once, indeed, uncomfortably close to their own craft.

"He's struck it uncommonly near," remarked Tom. "I guess it's time for
us to be leaving."

"Suppose it's Hardley up above there?" suggested Ned.

"I don't doubt but it is."

"Well, are we going off and leave the wreck--and possibly other gold
that may be hidden on her?"

"I wouldn't give ten dollars for the chance of searching for any more
gold!" Tom exclaimed. "We'll take this steel box--it may contain
something of value. The rest we'll leave to Hardley."

Preparations for rising to the surface were quickly made. Up and up
went the M. N. 1, leaving the ill-starred Pandora to whatever else fate
had in store for her.

Tom's craft broke water with gentle undulations of the waves. The top
of the hatch was thrown back, admitting the bright sunshine on those
who had been long in the shadow of the underseas. And, as the young
inventor and his friends went out on deck, they saw a small steamer
riding on the ocean not far away.

One look was enough to tell them it was from this craft that the
grappling iron had been let down, and as the submarine drifted nearer
the form of Hardley was seen on deck. He was directing operations.

Some one must have called his attention to the M. N. 1, for he hurried
to the rail of the craft which he had evidently chartered to seek the
Pandora, and he exclaimed:

"What are you doing here, Swift?"

"The same thing you are, I believe," coolly a