"What will be the result?" asked Mrs. Johnson.
"I do not know," was the answer, and the captain turned aside. He seemed to have lost all courage in the face of the new disaster.
"Can't we empty the tanks and rise to the surface?" asked Andy.
"The tanks are not filled," replied Mr. Henderson. "What is taking us down is the force of the whirlpool and not the weight of water."
"Then you fear for the worst?" asked Andy.
"I do," said the captain simply.
"Don't give up the ship!" exclaimed the old hunter suddenly. "Never say die! It's a long lane that has no turns! Hip! Hip! Hurrah!"
They all turned to stare at the old man.
"Never mind," said Mr. Henderson in a soothing tone, that one would use toward a baby, or a person not right in their head. "Never mind. We may be saved."
"Oh I'm not crazy!" exclaimed Andy. He tried to caper about but the motion of the ship made him dizzy and he had to sit down. "I'm all right! I just happened to think of something!"