Larry writhed, and should have suspected then and there—but as it was, the blow fell unexpected, stunning.
Filing from the lock, they failed to notice that Von Ullrich and his crew hung back, until there came a sudden, guttural command, whereupon Diane was seized and the massive door flung shut in their faces.
Appalled by this overwhelming disaster, the party stood for a moment motionless, speechless. Then, as one, Larry and the professor rushed forward and beat upon that barred hatch, calling upon Von Ullrich to open it.
From within the submarine, through their vibrators, they heard him laugh.
“Auf Wiedersehen!” he toasted them. “I now have all the treasure I want! The rest I leave to you! Help yourselves!”
Even as he spoke, the Nereid’s auxiliary propellers started churning the water. Slowly, sluggishly, like some great gorged fish, the sturdy craft moved off, lifted her snout, headed upward.
Professor Stevens bowed his head, and Larry could well picture the grief that distorted the graybeard’s face, inside that owl-eyed helmet.
“Cheer up!” he said, though his own face was twisted with anguish. “Perhaps—”
Then he paused—for how could he say that perhaps the situation wasn’t as bad as it seemed, when it was obviously hopeless?