In his eagerness to catch them Captain Vindex had allowed the _Searcher_ to run into the rocks.
The submarine craft shot out of the water, and then----
Bang! Boom! Crash!
It was as if heaven and earth were splitting in twain.
The whole island shook, and all in the boat fell flat.
The _Searcher_ had been blown to atoms.
The air was filled with flying bits of iron and steel.
Of course all on board were instantly killed.
It was a long while before Mont and his companions recovered.
"Out of it at last, thank Heaven!" murmured Professor Woddle, and all said "Amen."
A month later the little party returned to the United States.
Mont"s widowed mother was overjoyed to see him alive, and Carl"s parents were equally elated, and so were the many friends at Nautical Hall.
The pearls were equally divided, and to-day all of the party are rich men.
"But I wouldn"t take another such trip," says Mont. "No, not to pick up all the hidden treasures of the ocean. After this I"m going to remain at Nautical Hall and take the balance of my sea training on land. I"ve had all I want of such submarine ships as the _Searcher_, and such mysterious men as was the Wizard of the Sea."