ever have done such a thing as try to
condemn us all, himself included, to death in the depths by
asphyxiation."

"He's a maniac, sure enough," commented Mr. Farnum. "But how on earth
did I ever get trapped into hiring such a fellow as one of the crew?
Confound him, he seemed sane enough until after we came below the
surface."

"And now, sir," nudged Captain Jack, "I think we'd all of us be thankful
enough for a glimpse of the surface--for a look at the stars--a breath
of real ocean breeze."

"Good enough," nodded the boat-builder. "Travel right to it!"

Though all were weak and trembly from the shock of their late experience,
there was strength enough in their combined force to handle the "Pollard"
promptly.

While Messrs. Farnum and Pollard sat over the prostrate Henderson,
handcuffed on the floor, Hal hurried to the engine room, while Captain
Jack climbed up into the conning tower. Eph Somers stood near the
two men and their captive, ready to respond to any call.

But Henderson, now that his maniacal rage had passed, was sobbing
quietly. He seemed spent, exhausted.

It was with a thrill that the young captain of the submarine touched
the control for speed ahead from the electric equipment. Then he looked
at his compass, finding that the boat, from a northerly heading, had
veered around almost east. As the boat went ahead, softly, Benson
put the course around to north. Then he called to Hal and Eph to empty
the diving tanks by degrees.

"Going up on even keel!" asked young Hastings.

"Surest thing I know," replied the young captain.

Though there was not much motion, all felt the boat gradually rising.
Then Captain Jack suddenly caught the greater comparative light of the
night above the water. Next, he caught sight of the blessed stars. But
he did not stop the work of Hal and Eph until the boat rode well up out
of the water.

"Now, come up and get the manhole open," called the young skipper.
"Let's all have a notion again of how it feels to stand in the open air."

Messrs. Farnum and Pollard had, by this time, completed the captivity
of Bill Henderson by wrapping around him and securing many and many a
turn of half-inch rope.

As the manhole was opened Captain Jack stepped out, taking the deck
wheel. The others, all except the prisoner, crowed out after him. Thus
they ran along for a mile or two, under the slower electric power.

"That crazy fellow," uttered Jacob Farnum, "had some mania