"Put on the searchlight and see that our way is perfectly clear," he said to the man who attended to the lights.
"Aye, aye, cap'n!" was the answer, and the powerful searchlight was made to do duty under the sea, bringing within its rays thousands of fish who knew not what to make of the unexpected glare.
Soon Oscar found his way to the lookout.
The way seemed to be perfectly clear, and he was on the point of having the speed of the submarine craft increased when something caught his eye which made him pause.
The Holland had glided into a fine netting made of copper wire.
The netting was shaped like a funnel, running down to a hole at the end not quite as large in diameter as the width of the ship.
Here was located a hidden mine, ready to go off the instant any moving body of large size should strike it.
Had the Holland kept on running the huge copper netting would have led the submarine craft directly into the hole, the mine would have exploded, and that would have been the end of the craft and all on board.
"Back, quick!" cried Captain Oscar, and touched the button which connected with the engine.
The screws were reversed, and the Holland XI. gave a shiver from stem to stern as her rapid head-way was checked.