Their trip to the middle of the Pacific and to the bottom of that mighty ocean had availed them nothing.
Father and son stared helplessly at each other and then at the rival party.
All were equally dumfounded.
The rage of the Hankers knew no bounds.
Lemuel Hankers would not believe the truth, and had Cal Vixen go with him and Bart on a thorough search throughout the wreck, and all around it.
It was useless; the Happy Hour and the vicinity were absolutely bare of the first trace of gold, or, in fact, of anything of value.
With heavy hearts the Hankers party returned to their diving bell.
"The jig is up!" cried Bart, as soon as he was inside and could speak. "Oh, what a sell!"
"I was mad to believe in it!" came from Lemuel Hankers. "And to think that I have spent thousands of dollars on a fool's; errand!" And tears of miserly rage flowed down his cheeks.
"I reckon we might as well go up," put in Cal Vixen. He, too, was disgusted.