Jonathan sets out to save Colin. He comes to a staircase that is submerged in water three steps down. He puts a book of matches in his mouth to keep them dry while he swims through the dark water, staying close to the ceiling. He finds a staircase and climbs up it out of the water. It takes him four matches to light the wet wick of the candle.

When he finally finds Colin, he is almost totally under the water. Only Colin’s head and neck are above the surface. He must put out his candle to dive under the water and untie the knots to free Colin.

As he struggles to untie Colin and save him from drowning, he imagines that he is saving his sister Sophia: “I can save her [...] I can save him, he corrected himself” (223). He finally unties Colin and frees him. They swim in complete darkness toward the door, using the wall to guide themselves.

They make it out to the corridor, where the water is not as high. Jonathan decides he must warn the librarian even though it means taking another risk in the rising water. When they arrive at the library, the librarian is standing with wet hair and the rat shivering on his shoulder.