The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-12-13
with my name, upon one of the tran
SONS. He nodded toward this and

with my name, upon one of the tran |
SONS. He nodded toward this and
said:
II suppose you don't remember
bringing that on board, do you?"
well, to tell the truth, don't. And
! think I was pretty sober, too. Where
did I get it? Whats inside?"
Nothing at 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 L
know them by heart, but 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 l 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 the
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; Tor knew assistance would
be unobtainable when came to actual
~ use it. The screws at the back of the
helmet collar were the most difficult
to tighten. but I finally adjusted them
to even HalsteadS satisfaction. For
tunately. had not screwed on the
front lens Of the helmet until the last,
else / think I should have been suf-
located before the compressed air in
the reservoir began to work. The sick
ening nervousness felt at being shut
up in such rig made me dread the at
tempt to go under water with it, but
the captain assured me that, having
had the thing on, it wouldn't trouble
me az 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 Halstead took
a square mahogany box, covered with
rubber and having a 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 a brill
liant illumination. He said he had
used it when mate of an oil tank rum
ming to Batoum, the insurance regula-
tions prohibiting anything in the shape
~ 0vn 10, 4 A y
but reliable compass, 1000 feet of half
inch braided linen line, spare sex
tant. the taffrail log then towing
astern, and a 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 sat down
to figure the exact position of the reef.
To begin WITH" said the captain,
we took that first sounding as square
~ upon that charted position as it
would be possible for a ship to strike
it. l got the sun at six bells in the
forenoon watch and calculated back
y 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 at 500 fathom. While you were
telling me about those clouds, we made
about half mile before we turned;
about six miles to where took that
first cast. Well, you know how much
water she's drawing, don't youo?"
"Fifteen feet ?"
sixteen and half aft; and the lead
struck rock at an even three fathom,
first heave! saw the line jerk al the
leather strips went under, and every
hair of my head felt as though it were
standing on end. It scared me so that
I dropped the whole coil from my arm
luckily-and 1 had mighty hollow
feeling in the pit of my stomach. Dur
ing the next 60 seconds I did more
thinking than ever did in an hour of
my life. knew you were watching
me, and I was afraid others might be,
too. By every law of prudencel and
seamanship should have signaled
you: Stop her! Hard astern!'-but
If 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. Sebastiano
would have sufficient data to chase
you down there the first time you
started. But I remembered that Dam
pier and the other old navigators who
found the place gave an average depth
of four fathoms. 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
4 business prospects for good many
years to come. 1t was tighter spot
l.