"Oh, Tom, is it really you?" cried Jeff, rushing forward and wringing Tom's hand warmly.
"Guess it is," laughed the boy; "and, best of all, here's Mr. Ironsides."
"You have succeeded beyond my wildest expectations," cried the professor. "It's wonderful, wonderful!"
But in the midst of the congratulations and joyous reunion, the bushes on shore suddenly began to spit fire. A volley also came from the tug. The first sentry had reached the vessel and reported what had occurred, and the two men left to guard Mr. Ironsides were not long in discovering that their bird had flown.
As for the fire from the shore, it came from Captain Rangler and the others in the tower, who had guessed instantly, when the sentry opened fire, that something had happened to free their prisoners.
Bullets spattered on the water about them, and pinged on the metal deck of the Huron.
"Wow! This is a regular bee-hive!" exclaimed Mr. Ironsides.
"We must cast off without delay," cried Tom. "They have taken the alarm with a vengeance."
Suddenly, from the shore, the brilliant light of a Bengal torch flooded the whole scene with a bright blue glare.
Tom darted forward and cast off the towing ropes, which still attached the submarine to the tug. In the meantime, Sam had the engines started once more.