As soon as the current was turned off the _Sword_ stopped, opened her water tanks and slowly sank again.
Then the light in the lookout was turned on again, and there in front of us was a black circle that did not reflect the lamp's rays.
"There it is, there is the tunnel!" I cried.
Was it not the door by which I was going to escape from my prison?
Was not liberty awaiting me on the other side?
Gently the _Sword_ moved towards the orifice.
Oh! the horrible mischance! How have I survived it?
How is it that my heart is not broken?
A dim light appeared in the depth of the tunnel, about twenty-five yards in front of us.

The advancing light could be none other than that, projected through the lookout of Ker Karraje's submarine boat.
"The tug! The tug!" I exclaimed.

"Lieutenant, here is the tug returning to Back Cup!" "Full speed astern," ordered the officer, and the _Sword_ drew back just as she was about to enter the tunnel.
One chance remained.

The lieutenant had swiftly turned off the light, and it was just possible that we had not been seen by the people in the tug.

Perhaps, in the dark waters of the lagoon, we should escape notice, and when the oncoming boat had risen and moored to the jetty, we should be able to slip out unperceived.
We had backed close in to the south side and the _Sword_ was about to stop, but alas, for our hopes! Captain Spade had seen that another submarine boat was about to issue through the tunnel, and he was making preparations to chase us.