The hastily extemporized life jacket balloons were hauled down and the wires coiled. When this had been done. Jack told everybody to take their seats in the car, on the top of which the dismantled gas bag had been folded by the captain and the two sailors, while Abner Jennings helped Jupe to pack up. Jack took his seat last of all and started the engine going. It worked without a hitch, and the auto,—a flying machine no longer,—moved off across the sand, heavily laden as it was, without difficulty. The rim about the submerged centre of the island was soon circumnavigated, and the beginning of the narrow neck of land reached. Then Jack fairly “let the car out.” The newly formed isthmus was hard, and the car flew over it under the full power of its engines. “Mighty good t’ing dere ain’t no speed laws in dis part ob de world,” grunted Jupe as they flew along. The shore appeared to rush toward them, but if they had hoped to see any signs of human habitation as they drew close to it they were mistaken. Nothing but a mass of trees, backed by rising ground, appeared along the coast as far as the eye could reach in either direction. As they sped along they heard behind them a sudden mighty uproar. Gazing back they saw the ocean heaving and boiling all about the island they had left, as if it had been a witches’ caldron. Great jets of water shot up, and the surface of the sea was flecked with foam and spume. The sight fascinated every one of them but Jack, who had to be intent on his driving. “The whole island is going!” shouted the Professor. He was right. With a sudden booming roar and upheaval of the ocean, the entire mass of land sank under the waves, which for a long time boiled and simmered above it. Just as the last vestige of the island vanished, leaving only the newly created peninsula projecting from the land, they reached the solid earth. Their dash to the mainland had taken place only just in time. A little more delay, they realized with shudders, would have meant their total annihilation. “I said the island would go,” cried Abner Jennings triumphantly. “I’ve ’em vanish like that in the South Seas.” No one had any comment to make. The horror of what they had just witnessed struck them all dumb. The gratitude they felt to Divine Providence for their lucky rescue filled their hearts to overflowing, and left no room for speech. The Flying Road Racer was stopped, and they silently gazed for a long time at the bubbling, heaving waters. The sight was impressive, even if it did cause a shiver and inspire a feeling that bordered on fear. After a while the Professor spoke. His tone was as solemn as his words. “Boys,” he said, addressing his young friends, “we have just witnessed something that many scientists would give a great deal to behold.” “Well, candidly,” said Tom, “I’ve seen enough of it.”