"Elaine!" cried Arnold, catching sight of her in the hands of Del Mar.
Quickly, at the head of such men as he could muster, the hermit led a charge.
In the submarine the last man was waiting for Del Mar. As the hermit ran forward with several soldiers between Del Mar and the submarine, it was evident that Del Mar would be cut off.
The man at the hatch climbed down into the boat. It was useless to wait. He banged shut and clamped the hatch. Slowly the submarine began to sink.
Del Mar by this time had overcome Elaine and started to run toward the submarine with her. But then he stopped short.
There was a queer figure of a hermit leading some soldiers. He was cut off.
"Back into the office!" he growled, dragging Elaine.
He banged shut the door just as the hermit and the soldiers made a rush at him. On the door they battered. But it was in vain. The door was locked.
In the office Del Mar hastily went to a corner, after barring the door, and lifted a trap-door in the floor, known only to himself.
Elaine did not move or make any attempt to escape, for Del Mar in addition to having a vicious looking automatic in his hand kept a watchful eye on her.