The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-12-31

-
A'Well, to tell the truth, don't. And
] think was pretty sober, too. Where
did l get it? What's inside?"
Nothing ut present. This diving
suit is going in if can make it. Now
Draw the curtains and strip to your
shirt and drawers"
"What for?"
ITO try the thing on, of course.
Hustle. now; We'll be in by two o'clock.
I've read the directions over until
know them by heart, but l want you
to be boxed up in it once while I'm by
to help you. It's pretty risky bust
ness, no matter how often man does
it, and | don't want your death on
my hands. You see, it will be simply
out of the question to depend upon
pumper above water-you can't trust
anyone--and it's going to take all tho
nerve you've got to go down without"
/ put the suit on, piece by piece,
obeying the printed instructions to
the letter and fastening every clamp
myself; for I knew assistance would
be unobtainable when came to actual-
ly use it. The screws at the back of the
helmet collar were the most difficult
to tighten, but finally adjusted them
to even Halstead's satisfaction. For
tunately. I had not screwed on the
front lens Of the helmet until the last,
else / think I should have been sllf-
located before the compressed air in
the reservoir began to work. The sick
ening nervousness I felt at being shut
up in such rig made me dread the at
tempt to go under water with 1t. but
the captain assured me that, having
had the thing on, it wouldn't trouble
me as much next time. Then we
packed it carefully away in the chest,
together with several dynamite cart
ridges, two light but powerful steel
bars, couple of strong hatchets, and
some saws and knives.
From another locker Hnlstead took
a square mahogany box, covered with
rubber and having n lens in one side.
1t looked something like kodak, but
proved to be a powerful rejecting
light, the electricity for which was
supplied by chemical cartridge that
lasted six hours and produced n brill
liant Illumination. He said he had
used 1t when mate OF an oil tank rum
ming to Batoum, the insurance regula-
tions prohibiting anything in the shape
of an open lantern on board. A small
but reliable compass, 1000 feet of half
inch braided linen line, spare sex
tant, the taffrail log then towing
astern, and q chart of the two archi-
pelagoes, completed the equipment.
The chart we spread upon the table,
but the other articles were securely
locked In the chest. Then we sal down
to figure the exact position OF the reef.
'To begin with" said the captain,
tive took that first sounding as square
ly upon that chnrted position MS it
would be possible for ship to strike
il. l got the sun Mt six bells in the
forenoon watch and calculated back
wards, SO I'm dead sure of it. Then,
under half speed, we made just about
a mile further eas'-those two sound
ings I've marked with crosses, as you
see. After that, three miles due SOU,
to this other cross, and six miles due
moth, to this one. No bottom any
where Mt 900 fathom. While you were
telling me about thOs" clouds, we made
about half n mile before we turned;
then, as closely rs can figure It, just
about six miles to where | took that
first cast. Well, you know how much
water she's drawing, don't you?"
Fifteen fect?"
"Sixtccn and half aft; and the lead
struck rock at an even three futhom,
first heuvel saw the line jerk as he
leather strips went under, and every
hair OF my head felt as though 1t were
standing on end. IT scared me SO that
I dropped the whole coil from my arm
luckily-and | had u mighty hollow
feeling in The pit of my ST on,ach. Dur
ing the next 60 seconds / did more
thinking than l ever did in an hour Of
my life. l knew you were watching
me, and I was nfrnid others might be,
too. by every law of prudence and
seamnnship l should have signalcd
you: Stop her! Hard nstern!'-but
If I did, knew we'd have the deck full
Of people in few seconds. Diaz and
Moreno would have been up in two
jumps, and what we knew about the
reef everyone would know. Scbastiano
would have sufficient data to chase
you down there the first time you
started. But remembered that DAM
pier and the other old nnvignt ors who
found the place gnve m average depth
of four fnthoms. The gallecn that
struck in avoiding Dampier's ships was
undoubtedly loaded down to her chan
mel plates, and probably hit an iso-
lated spot. So there seemed to me an
even chance of steaming across the
ledge in safety and without giving the
snap away. On the other hand, if we
struck, there would be an end OF my
business prospects for IL good many
years to come. 1t was IL tighter spot
than I ever care to be in again. but
inside of two minutes decided to risk
1t. At the second cast ! got quarter
less four Five minutes al ter, I struck
bottom at half three then deep
four;' and at the last heave the calico
was just above the water when she
touched"
"But, how the devill I'll swear
saw you pulling up the whole length
of line each time"
"Well, rather! You didn't suppose
was fool enough to give away what
Twas getting, did you? When mans
been chucking lead for IS odd years
it don't take more'n. fraction of n
second to tell when he strikes bottom.
No. I let the stuck fall when the lead
was under me, and we had way enough