“Very well, then.”
As a precaution the light was turned off. The engineer set the pumps in motion, and, lightened of its water ballast, the boat slowly rose in the darkness to the surface.
I remained at my post so that I could peer through the lookouts.
At last the ascensional movement of the Sword stopped, and the periscope emerged about a foot.
On one side of me, lighted by the lamp by the shore, I could see the Beehive.
“What is your opinion?” demanded the lieutenant.
“We are too far north. The orifice is in the west side of the cavern.”
“Is anybody about?”
“Not a soul.”
“Capital, Mr. Hart. Then we will keep on a level with the surface, and when we are in front of the tunnel, and you give the signal, we will sink.”