"Everyone listen carefully. When I play on the harmonica I'll take over charming the hybrid, you guys make your way over to the doorway but don't make any sudden moves."

The water was rising rapidly. It was already up to his knees so Indy didn't have any more time to explain and simply blew on the harmonica. His students stopped and the hybrid focused on Indy.

Dean and Jonothon, being closest to the wall with the indentation got there with ease but just as Dawn got out of arms reach of Indy she lost her footing, went briefly under the surging water then game up gasping. The hybrid's head snapped to the left, its tongue flickering out menacingly. Indy tried to get its attention back with the music but the snake had prey on its mind as it slithered slowly down the tree and into the water which was now nearing Indy's waist.

"GO!" shouted Indy.

Dawn didn't need telling twice and she half ran half swam towards the doorway even though it wouldn't make much difference as there was no-where else to go.

Indy surged towards the tree while keeping an eye on the hybrid as it slid gracefully in the water towards Dawn.

The serpents head was only a couple of feet away from Dawn when it rose up, ready to strike. With all the years of experience and the hours of relentless practice Indy flicked the whip powerfully towards its head, lassoing it around the neck perfectly.

It lunged forward as Indy pulled backwards with his arm encircling one of the tree's branches for support.

Denied its kill the serpent whisked around searching for the cause of its fury.

"Oooh boy!" whispered Indy as it surged towards him.

Indy pulled himself out of the water, onto a branch and climbed up to the next branch gripping his whip tightly. He was as high as he could go now and the snake began slithering up the lower branches Indy tied the handle of the whip as tightly as he could around the base of the branch then leaped into the water a second before the hybrid's fanged mouth napped at the space previously occupied by his legs.

The hybrid lunged off the tree in an attempt to follow but was yanked unceremoniously back as it found itself tangled around the tree branch by Indy's whip.

Indy plunged into freezing cold water. For a few seconds he was completely disorientated until his head broke the surface and he could see his students treading water near the doorway. He swam over noticing the water level was only a couple of feet away from the roof. It was already over the octagonal hole in the wall.

"I'm going under to place this in the hole." Indy explained. "As soon as I do look for an opening or any way out!"

Without waiting for a response he took a deep breath and dived back into the cold blackness, the stones providing little illumination in the dark water. As he went down he scraped the wall with his fingers until he found the indentation. Pulling the object from his pouch he pushed it against the indentation, turning and adjusting its position. Just when he thought it would never fit in it suddenly slotted into place. Nothing happened. Indy began to panic as began to feel the inevitable urge to breath. In desperation he pushed against the wall; it moved slightly!

He pushed again, feeling it give way. Instead of sliding open like the other stone slabs this one acted more like a conventional door which he was able to push open. Almost immediately some sort of current pulled at him, sucking him through the exit. He turned head over heal, dangerously close to gasping for air. As he flipped over he hit something hard involuntary causing him to expel the last of his held breath.

Scrambling around Indy realised he had hit some stone steps so he pulled himself forward, got a foothold on a stair and headed in what he hoped was in an upward direction. He couldn't hold off breathing any longer. As instinct threatened to take over he finally broke the surface gasping and coughing. Rather than allow himself time to recover he looked around for his students.

"Dr Jones! Dr Jones, up here!"

Indy looked further up the stairs. Jonothan stood a few steps further up and thankfully he was with others; although a sorrier looking bunch of drowned rats he had never seen. The water continued to rise so Indy urged them to continue upwards towards a faint light source which Indy hoped was finally an exit. It proved to be so.

They emerged from a similar opening to the one they had entered just over half an hour ago. It seemed like they had been down there for hours but outside it was the twilight hour, the time between sunset and night.

The group collapsed on the ground a few feet away. As Indy recovered his senses he checked his surroundings. They were near the tail end of the Serpent Mound just as Indy expected. Opening the inner door must have activated the hidden one and luckily for them they didn't have to wait for the Winter Solstice before they could escape. There was no sign of the other students. Either they were back at the Tourist Information centre or desperately searching for them at the Serpent's head.

Indy stood shakily to his feet. Dawn and Jeff where already up, peering down the stairs.

"Sir! Come here quickly!"

With a groan Indy went to see what Jeff was so exited about. Jeff grabbed his arm and pointed down the stairs.

"Down there, I think I can see the snake swimming around!"

Indy peered into the gloom.

"I told you it's not a..."

It was badly lit but it appeared the water was receding. Indy frowned, there was indeed something moving down there. Without warning Indy told them all to stay where they were then he plunged back down the stairs.

"What the heck is he doing?" asked Jeff

Jonothan shrugged. Dr Jones had done some crazy things since they had become trapped but he'd saved their lives several times so he was almost sure Dr Jones knew what he was doing.

They waited. All of them strained to see something or hear anything but all they could hear was the rush of water. Even this became fainter over time. All of this changed when the opening started to slowly close with a now familiar grumbling sound. They started screaming, shouting for their teaching to get out. Indy appeared as the slab was half way across the floor. Running up the steps he had to turn sideways to fit through the gap but managed to do so with seconds to spare.

They all hugged Indy fiercely who managed to look suitably embarrassed.

"Why did you go back in Dr Jones?"

"Yeah Sir, did you go back down there?"

To answer all their questions Indy held up his bullwhip.

"I told you it wasn't a snake."

Out of his pouch he pulled out the octagonal object.

"Besides, I had to go back to get this!"

There was a moment of stunned silence which was broken by Jonothan.

"You crazy Dr Jones!"

If this had been his old side kick an outburst like that would have started an argument which would quickly have switched to frantic Mandarin. Instead, partly from the memories and partly from relief of rescuing his students Indy burst out laughing. The students stood in shock but soon the laughter became infectious and they too began to laugh until all five were on the ground laughing. Indy started to plead with them to stop as his sides were hurting. This made them laugh even more.