The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-03-22

thing. The arms had sprung out Of
the shadow, ana | knew that they were
more behind When would they. too,
spring upon me? Where would they
fix their hold? / stood expectant of
W hat was to come next; my eyes
searched i'm the darkness for the face
of my enemy. ! think the silence was
the worst of it. roar, a triumphant
scream, even a hiss would have been a
relief. 1t was the utter silence that
was terrible. 1t could only have been
for Il minute or two at the most, for
when ! cast my eyes down | could see
that the little river of yellow coins
was still trickling down and losing it
self in the shadows. l didn't try to
reach 1t now. Somehow my interest,
which had been so keen and overpower-
ing Only a few minutes before. seemed
to nave ceased. ] looked at 1t vaguely,
hut | scarcely had more than a faint
curiosity about the coins, and they no
longer connected themselves With my
future. As I looked, l moved my foot,
fell off-the torlhawk. The accident
and something that rested against it
brought me back from the half-un-
conscious state into which | was fall
after all, ! stopped to seize it, and at
the same moment another slender hand
darted at me from the darkness and
clutched me by the arm. 1t held me,
yet IT did not paralyZe as the others
had done. l had grown accustomed
to the idea, which was much, and
now had Il CLEAN of hope. which was
still more. l bent forwards and down
wards in spite of the clirging hands
that held me back. At last'I reached
it, and as my fingers closed clumsily
ON the handls ] felt as if I We're sud-
denly restored to my self-contldence
once more.
/ rose to face my unseen adversary
and | was surprised to feel myself SC
cool and prepared. | had always heard
that men We're quickly exhausted IN
the tolls of the devil fish, and for a few
moments | failed to understand why
should be an exception to the rule
Then it dawned upon me. It was my
diving suit that preserved me so far
The creature had seized me indeed but
his suckers We're fixed only on the thick
leather suit that covered me from heaC
to foot. Even through that strong pro.
lection / could feel the force of thai
deadly suction, for my flesh seemed t
creep and rise to meet the grip of thes,
leathery looking bands, but it was with
a new hope that | recognized the fac
that most of their deadly power was
wasted on me. Helpless as | was il
that grasp, the struggle might not af
ter all be a hopeless one. The very
thought was half the battle gained.
My assailant was in no hurry. Sec
ond after second passed, and they
| seemed more than minutes to me, ye
he made no farther movement | faced
the shadow; | strained my eyes to fol
low these deadly arms to the place
they came from; | gazed into the dark
ness in the hope of seeing some vulner
able point at which to strike. More
than once | tried the edge of my weap
ON on the long, sineWy bands tina
grasped me, but 1t was vain--I coui,
make no IMPRESSION Then anothe
| stole out of the darkness and alighte(
| on my thigh. -Four" | said to my
| self, as | eyed the snaky line--a darke
shadow in the dim water. / waited 70
| what was to come. | felt a grim pleas
ure in the thought that my armOr wa
| all the time deCeiVing the devil fish
| He was waiting till | should be helples
in his grip. Well, | also could wait!