The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-06-17
Boy-Divers in the Red Sea.

cts too dark to make ont much to-
night, but you'll see rare sight when
you come ON deck tomorrow morning. F."
The worthy Captains mention of
looming on deck" is doubtless from
force of habit, for neither he nor have
been anywhere but on deck for more
than week, except perhaps to look for
something which we have left below.
Most of my time is spent in the rigging,
where what little wind there is may gen.
orally be met with !; and our table, cloth
is spread on the after-hatch," while
our arrangements for going to bed con-
sist merely of throwing blanket on
the deck, and stretching ourselves upon
it, undisturbed save by an occasional
scanlper of two or three frolicsome rats
over our faces.
When I awake the next morning, l
find the Captains promise amply made
good. The sun is just rising, and under
its golden splendor the broad blue sea
stretches westward as far as the eye can
reach, every ripple tipped with living
fire. On the other side extends sea of
another kind-the gray, unending level
of the great Arabian desert, melting
dimly into the warm, dreary sky. In
front, the low white wall of Turkish
fort stands out like an ivory carving
against the hot, brassy yellow of the
sand-hills that line the shore; while all
around it are the little cabins of mud
plastered wickerwork that compose the
Arab village, looking very much like
hampers left behind by some monster
picnic. Here and there, through the
light green of the shallower water along
the shore, flash of dazzling white,
keen and narrow as the edge of sword,
marks the presence of the dangerous
coral-reefs among which we have been
picking our way for the last three days,
with the chance of running aground at
any moment.
"You were right, Captain" say I, as
the burly skipper rises and stretches his
brawny arms, like bear awaking from
its winter nap. "This is sight worth
seeing, indeed"
'Ah, this amt what meant" chuck
led the Captain; "the best O the shows
to come yet Look over yonder-there,
just 'twixt the reef and the shore. Dye
see anything in the water?"
"Wel, l think [ see something swim
ming-sharks, suppose"
"Sharks, Ell? Well, land-sharks you
might call EN-, p'raps. Take my glass
and try again. "
The first look through the glass works
a startling change. In moment the
swarm of round black spots, which
have ignorantly taken for the backs of
sharks, are turned into faces-the faces
of Arab children, and Gas [ perceive with
no little amazement) OF very young chill
dren, too, some of the smallest being
apparently notmore than or 6 years old.
Our vessel is certainly not less than a
mile from the shore, and the water, shall
low as it is, is deep enough at any point
to drown the very tallest of these adven-
turous little "water- babies y yet they
are evidently making for the ship, and
that, too, at speed that will soon bring
them alongside of her.
care they really coming all this way
out without resting?" ask I.
"Bless you, that's nothing to an
Arab p laughs the Captain "these
little darkies are as much at home in the
water as on land. I've heard folks talk
good deal Of the way the South Sea
Islanders can swim but I've seen as
good swimming here as ever I saw
there"
And now, as the Lilliputian swim
mers draw near, we begin to hear their
shrill cries and elfsh laughter ; and now
they are close enough for their little
brown faces, and glittering teeth, and
beady black eyes, to be easily distin-
gushed and now one final stroke of
their lean, sinewy arms carries them
alongside, and the blue water swarms
with tiny figures, looking up and waving
their hands SO eagerly that one might
almost expect to hear them call out,
"Shine, boss % and see them produce a
brush and pot of backing. But instead
Of that, there is a universal chorus of
"Piastre, Hoo0adjj!" "a penny, my
Lord y
"Chuck 'em copper, and you'll see
something good |! says the Captain.
[ rummage the few remaining pockets
of my tattered white jacket, and at last
unearth Turkish piastre Is cents) which
[ toss into the water. Instantly the
smooth bright surface is dappled with a
forest of tiny brown toes, all turning
upward at once, and down plunge the
boy-divers, their supple limbs glancing
through the clear water like shoal Of
fish.
By this time nearly all the crew are
looking over the side and encouraging
the swimmers with lusty shouts for,
used as Jack is to all sorts of queer spec
tacles, this is one of which he seems
never to tire.
"Hhere's one of 'em got it r.
"No, he amt !"
Yes, he has-I see him a-comin' up
with it |"
fAnd there's the others a-tryin' to
take it from him-hold tight, Sambo +"
Sure enough, the successful diver is
surrounded by three or four piratical
comrades, who are doing their best to
snatch away the hard-won coin; but he
sticks to it like man, and, as he reaches
the surface, holds it up to us triumph
antly, and then pops it into his mouth
the only pocket he has got.
But this is sad mistake on his part.
In moment a crafty companion swims
up behind him, and tickles him under
the chin. As his mouth opens, out drops
the coin into his assailant's hand, from
whom it is instantly snatched by some
one else !; and a regular bear-fght en-
sues in the water, which splashes up all
around them like fountain jet, while
their shouts and laughter make the air
ring.
"Aren't they afraid of sharks % ask I
of the Captain, who has just increased
the confusion tenfold by throwing an
other copper into the very midst of the
screaming throng.
"Not they-they make too much row
for any shark to come near them. Sharks
are mighty easy scared, for all they're so
savage. You'll never catch 'em coming
too near steamer when she's goin'-
the fappin' of the screw frightens EN-
away. See, there's two of 'em comm
along now, and you'll just see how much
the boys IL care for EN-"
And, indeed, the sudden uprising of
those gaunt black fins, piercing the
smooth water as with an unexpected
stab, seems to produce no effect what
ever upon these fearless urehins, who