Following the example of the pearl diver, the captain struck the ground with his heels, as did the others, and all were soon at the surface.
The Indian had regained his canoe, but he was lying at the bottom in a half-fainting condition.
Satisfying himself that the poor fellow would live, and was not seriously injured, the captain signaled to his companions to descend, leaving the Indian gazing at them with haggard eyes, thinking he had seen some supernatural beings.
Walking as fast as they could along the bottom of the sea, they came in time to the anchor of their boat, reascended to the surface, and, taking their seats, removed their head-cases with a feeling of relief.
The negroes immediately began to row back to the Searcher.
Captain Vindex was the first to speak.
"Thank you, my lad," he said, extending his hand to Mont.
"It's nothing," rejoined our hero bluntly; "you saved my life when we were wrecked, and I have now saved yours with my harpoon. We are equal now, and I owe you nothing."
A sickly smile sat on the captain's lips for a second, and that was all.
"Lay to it!" he cried to his men. "Pull to the Searcher."