Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-09-21
Boy-Divers in the Red Sea.

''Here we are at last" says the Captain,
as we cast anchor off the coast OF Arabia,
little after sunset. about two-thirds down
the Red sea. ''It's too dark to make out
much tonight, but you'll see a rare sight
when YOU come on deck tomorrow morn
Ing"
The worthy Captains mention of ''com-
ing on deck" Is doubtless from force of
habit, for neither he nor l have been any,
where but on deck for more than a week,
except perhaps to look for something which
we had left below. Most of my time is
spent in the rigging, where what little
wind there is may generally be met with;
and our table cloth is spread on the ''after-
hatch, while our arrangements for going
to bel consist merely of throwing
blanket on the deck, and stretching our
selves upon 1t, undisturbed save by an &C
casional scamper OF two or three frolicsome
rats over our faces.
When awake the next morning, | find
the Captains promise amply made good.
The sun IS just rising, and under its golden
splendor the broad blue sea stretches west
ward as far as the eye can reach, every
ripple tipped with living fire. On the
other side extends sea of another kind
the grey, unendipg level of the great Arabian
desert, melting dlmly into the warm, dreary
sky. In front, the low white wall of
Turkish fort stands out like an ivory carv-
Ing against the hot, brassy yellow of the
sand-hills that line the shore; while all
around 1t are the little cabins of mud -plas-
tered wickerwork that compose the Arab
village, looking very much like hampers
lef, 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 4 sword, marks the presence of the
dangerous corsl reefs among which we
have been picking our way fl the last three
days, with 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, IN
deed"
'Ah, this amt what meant" chuckled
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 wateri"
swell, think l see something swimming
sharks, suppose"
''Sharks, ehf Well, land sharks you
might call 'em, p'raps. Take nay glass and
try again"
The first look through the glass works
startling change. In a moment the swarm
of round black spots, which l have ignor-
antly taken for the backs of sharks, are
turned into faces-the faces of Arab chill
dren, and (as l perceive with no little
amazemenD of very young children, too,
some of the smallest being apparently not
more than Ut years old. Our vessel is
certainly not less than a mile from the
shore, and the water, shallow as 1t is, is
deep enough at any point to drown the
very tallest of these adventurous little
'water-babies;" yet they are evidently
making for the ship, and that, too, at a
speed that will soon bring them alongside
OF her.
"Are they really coming all this way out
without restingl" ask /.
''Bless you, that's nothing TO an Arabi'
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 ssen as good swimming here as
ever l saw there"
And now, as the Lilliputian swimmeps
draw near, we begin to hear their shrill
ciies and eltish laughter; and now they are
close enough for their little brown faces,
and glittering teeth, and beady black eyes.
to De easily distinguished; and now Gne
final stroke of their lean, sinewy arms car
ries them alongside, and the blue water
swarms with tiny fingers, looking up asd
waving their hands 50 eagerly that one
might almost expect to hear them call out,
''ohile. boss?" and see them produce u
brush and pot OF backing. But instead oil
that, there is universal chorus of "Pids-
ire, HowadJi" "a penny, my Lordl
''Chuck 'en a copper, ard you'll see
something goodl" says the Captain.
Irummage the few remaining pockets Of
my tattered white jacket, and at last un-
Garth Turkish piastre Is cents) which /
toss into the water. Instantly the smooth
bright surface is dappled with a fore-t of
tiny brown toes. all turning upward at
once, and down plunge the boy divers, their
supple limbs glsncing through the clear
water like a shoal of fish.
By this time nearly all the crew arS
looking over the side and encouraging tn,
swimmers with lustv shouts; for, used a.