The night was one of anxiety. The travelers took turns standing guard, but nothing more occurred. The giants remained in their houses, and the heavy ropes still held the ship fast. “We must hold a council of war,” the professor decided as they gathered at breakfast, which was far from a cheerful meal. With the return of the colored lights the giants again made their appearance. They came swarming from the mound houses, and a great crowd they proved to be. Several thousand at least, Jack estimated, and when he went up into the conning tower and took a survey he could see the strange and terrible creatures pouring in from the surrounding country. “I’m afraid there will be trouble,” he said, as he came down and reported what he had seen. “We must hold a council of war,” repeated the professor. “Has any one anything to suggest?” “Get a lot of powder and blow ’em up!” cried Andy. “Arrange electric wires and shock ’em to death!” was Bill’s plan. “Can’t we slip the ropes in some way and escape?” asked Jack. “I don’t believe we can successfully fight the giants. They are too many, even if they are weak, individually.” “I think you’re right there,” Mr. Henderson said. “We must try some sort of strategy, but what? That is the question.” For a few minutes no one spoke. They were all thinking deeply, for their lives might hang in the balance. “I think I have a plan,” said Mark, at length. “Did we bring any diving suits with us?” “There may be one or two,” the professor replied. “But what good will they do?” “Two of us could put them on,” continued Mark, “and, as they afford good protection from any missiles like fruit, we could crawl out on the deck of the ship. From there, armed with hatchets or knives we could cut the ropes. Then the ship could rise.” “That’s a good plan!” cried the scientist. “We’ll try it at once!” Search revealed that two diving suits were among the stores of the _Mermaid_. Jack and Mark wanted to be the ones to don them, but as the suits were rather large, and as the professor thought it would take more strength than the boys had to do the work, it was decided that Andy and Washington should make the attempt to cut the ropes. The hunter and colored man lost little time in getting into the modern armor. In the meanwhile Jack, who had been posted as a lookout, reported that there seemed to be some activity among the giants. They were running here and there, and some seemed to be going off toward the woods, that were not far away. “Now work quickly,” urged the professor. “We will be on the watch, and as soon as the last rope is cut we will start the machinery and send the ship up. We will not wait for you to come back inside, so hold fast as best you can when the _Mermaid_ rises.” “We will,” answered Andy, just before the big copper helmet was fastened on his head, and Washington nodded to show he understood.