The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-07
i'm THE ABYSS.
RY H. G. WELLS.
Copyright, lssS. by the Bacheller Syndicate

three times to show I'm cheerful. I'm
with all those big lead sinkers slung
below me. The top lead weight has a
roller carrying a hundred fathoms of
strong cord rolled up. and that's all
that joins the sinkers to the sphere ex-
cept the slings that will be cut when the
affair is dropped. We use cord rather
than wire rope because it's easier to cut
and more buoyant-necessary points. as
you'll see. Through each of these lead
weights you notice there is hole, and
an iron rod will be run through that and
Will project six feet on the lower side
II that rod Is rammed up from below
1t knocks up a lever and sets the clock
work in motion at the side of the cyl
inder on which the cord winds Very
well. The whole affair Is lowered gently
into the water. and the slings are cut
The sphere tioats-with the air in it it's
lighter than water-but the lead weights
go down straight and the cord runs
out. When the cord is all paid out the
sphere will go down too. pulled down
by the cord
But why the cord?" asked Stevens
why not fasten the weights directly
to the sphere?"
Because of the smash down below
The whole affair will go rushing down
mile after mile. at headlong pace al
last. 1t would be knocked to pieces on
the bottom If 1t wasn't for that cord
But the weights will hit the bottom, and
directly they do, the buoyancy of the
sphere will come into play. 1t will &c
on sinking slow and slower: come to a
stop at last and then begin to float up
ward again. That's where the clock
work comes in. Directly the weights
smash against the bottom, the rod will
De knocked through and will kick up the
clockwork. and the cord will be re-
wound on the reel There I shall stay
for half an hour. with the electric light
ON. looking about me. Then the clock
work will release a spring knife. the
cord Will be cut, and up I shall rush
again. like u soda water bubble. The
cord itself will help the tiotation."
And if you should chance to hit a
ship" said Weybridge.
81 should come up at such u pace,
should go clean through it," said FL
stead. Like a cannon ball. You
needn't worry about that"
And suppose some nimble crustace-
an should wriggle into your clock
work"
1T would be pressing sort of invi-
tatton for me to stop" said Elstead
turning Is back on the water and star
ing at the sphere.
They had swung Elstead overheard
by II o'clock. The day was serenel,
bright and calm. with the horizon lost
In haze. The electric glare in the little
upper compartment beamed cheerfully
three times. Then they let him down
slowly to the surface of the water. anu
| a sailor in the stern chains hung ready
to cut the tackle that held the LEAD
weights and the sphere together. The
globe which had looked so large on
deck looked the smallest thing con.
ceivable under the stern of the ship. II
| rolled little, and its two dark win.
dows wich tloated uppermost seemed
like eyes turned up in round wonder
ment at the people who crowded tn.
rail. a voice wondered how Elstead
liked the rolling. Are you ready
| sand out the commander. Aye, aye
sir" "Then let her CO.
The ropes of the tackle tighteneC
against the blade and was cut and al
| eddy rolled over the globe IN gro
tesquely helpless fashion. Some one
waved a handkerchiefs some one elst
tried an Intellectual cheer. a MILDLY wa.
counting slowly eight, nine. ten
Another roll, then with jerk and G
| splash the thing righted itself i
| seemed to be stationary for a moment
to grow rapidly smaller. and then tn,
| water closed over 1t. and it became Wis
| ibe, enlarged by refractiOn and dim
| mer, below the surface. Before on,
| could count three it had disappeared
| There was a flicker of white light from
down in the water that diminished to 6
| speck and vanished. Then there wa.
nothing but depth of water goinl
down in the blackness, through whic!
a shark was swimming.
Then suddenly the screw of tn,
cruiser began to rotate, the water wa!
crickled, the shark disapepared i'm :
|