His father followed, and at a respectable distance came Cal Vixen and the two Hankers.
The cabin was badly wrecked, and in it nothing of value remained.
"I wonder if we can get down into the hold," thought Dave, and motioned to his father.
"We will try," came back from the old diver. "But be careful, or you won't get out alive."
The pair advanced with great caution, going down through the forward hatch.
In the meantime the rival party entered the hold by the rear hatch.
It was very dark, and the electric light shone but dimly here, for the water was so foul it contaminated the air they carried.
To the intense surprise of all, the hold of the Happy Hour was absolutely bare!
Dave could scarcely believe the evidence of his senses.
The great treasure was gone!