152 FOR THE FLAG

Three minutes later it stopped, and I knew that we were
rising to the surface.

The noise at the hatch was again audible. It was
opening this time.

The door of my cabin yielded to me, and in a few
bounds I was on the platform.

T looked....

The tug had penetrated into the very interior of Back-
cup. Here is the mysterious retreat where Count d’Artigas
lives with his companions, outside—so to speak—of
humanity !