XV. Pat and the Pick.-A dangerous Plan.-Undermining the very Foundation.-A terrible Risk.-Something like an Earthquake.-A Way opened.-They make an Ascent.-A sudden Stop.-The projecting Log.-The Pickaxe.-Who shall go down?-A new Descent.-The Watch of Bart.-Alarm.-A Call.-Silence.-Terror.-An Answer.-Fearful Intelligence.-The very worst.-The Drain.-The rising Waters.-The Pit flooded.-The impending Doom. XVI. Waking from a sound Sleep.-The Missing Ones.-An earnest Debate.-Various Theories.-Fishing versus Sailing.-Afloat or Ashore.-Emotion of the venerable Corbet.-His solemn Declaration.-The Antelope or the Whaler.-Stick to the Antelope.-A new Arrival.-The Landlord's View of the Case.-New Doubts and Perplexities.-"Afloat or Ashore" again.-The Landlord's View of the Sailing Theory, and his Decision in Favor of the Fishing Hypothesis.-The Lost Ones must be camping out for the Night. XVII. A new Arrival.-The "longshore Man".-A strange and startling Tale.-Fears once more awakened.-The Stranger's superstitious Dread.-The Boat found, but the Boys gone.-The Landlord's Statement.-Fears confirmed and increased.-Off to the Rescue.-Oak Island.-The empty Boat.-Where are the Boys?-The flooded Pits.-No Signs of the Missing Ones.-The grisly Theory of Roach.-Kidd and his Gang. XVIII. A Place of Peril.-The Descent of the Darkness.-Dreadful Expectation.-The Sound from the nether Abyss.-The rising Waters.-Higher and higher.-A Gleam of Hope.-The Beams intermixed.-Borne upward on the Waters.-The last Chance.-A final Struggle.-Pat up to the Surface.-Dropping a Line to a Friend.-The midnight Sky, and the moonlit Sea.-The lone Hut.-The Explorers.-Despondency.-A last Resort.-Sleepers awake.-Wild and frantic Joy.-The Voice of the Landlord.-The Joint Stock Company, and the Steam Engine. XIX. The Tale unfolded to Solomon and to Captain Corbet.-How they took it.-A New Departure.-A Bee-line for Home.-An Obstacle.-An old Enemy.-All at Sea literally and figuratively.-Terrible Calamity.-Striking a Rock.-Perilous Position.-Taking to the Pumps.-Preparing for the Worst. XX. Once more upon the Waters.-Terrible Discovery.-A Foot of Water in the Hold.-To the Pumps.-A desperate Struggle.-The Evening Meal.-Captain Corbet gazes on Vacancy.-A laborious Night-New Toils.-Exhaustion.- Fighting with the rising Waters.-Discouragement.-The Leak gains on them.-The End approaching. XXI. A miserable Night.-No one shrinks.-Their Efforts lessen.-Morning comes.-Four Feet of Water in the Hold.-Take to the Boat!-Come along, Captain!-The Dignity of Corbet.-The Folly of Pat.-The Insanity of Solomon.-The Imbecility of Wade.-The Perplexity of the Boys.-Dat ar ole Woman!-An Agony of Impatience.-Four on board tempting Fate.