Bat, after laying in a good provision of air by a long aspiration, plunged under the liquid mass, whose depth then exceeded five feet. It was a rather difficult task, because he would have to seek the lower orifice, slip through it, and then rise to the outside surface of the waters.
That must be done quickly.
Nearly half a minute passed away. Dick Sand then thought that Bat had succeeded in passing outside when the black emerged.
"Well!" exclaimed Dick Sand.
"The hole is stopped up by rubbish!" replied Bat, as soon as he could take breath.
"Stopped up!" repeated Tom.
"Yes," replied Bat. "The water has probably diluted the clay. I have felt around the walls with my hand. There is no longer any hole."
Dick Sand shook his head. His companions and he were hermetically sequestered in this cone, perhaps submerged by the water.
"If there is no longer any hole," then said Hercules, "we must make one."
"Wait," replied the young novice, stopping Hercules, who, hatchet in hand, was preparing to dive.