The Mena star., 1899-06-29
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.


 At first the sensation was similar to diving, naked, in deep water. There was the same bubbling numbness in the ears, the impression of light, faint ly penetrating through an opaque green substance, and grotesque shad- owy objects which caught at the feet and made it difficult to step. The ab- sence of huoyant feeing was strange and very uncomfortable. Had it not been for Halstead's precaution in mak- ing me try the suit on. I might easily have lost my head during the first five minutes. There was a rushing of air from the knapsacll which made me gasp for breath, and the continual pop-pop-pop-poppn of air-bubbles from the top of the copper helmet filled me with a horrible dread that the water was pressing in upon me through some unsuspected leak in the armor
 Presently. however. it seemed evil dent that l was neither drowning nor suffocating yet and l tried to look about me. Everything had the shad- owy appearance that objects will take on in room from which the sunlight has been excluded by window-shades "a sort of cool twilight. But as my eyes became accust omed to it, and as confidence began to return, I could see more distinctly. My body was pro- tected by copper hoops which allowed me to breathe in comparative free dom, but my limbs felt as though the sleeves and brooches were 14 sizes too tight and were likely to split when ever they moved.
 As nearly as one might calculate. the range of sight extended in q radius of about 50 feet-though at that distance objects had merely the appearance of blurred masses-and in few moments commenced making my way along the reef to the s'uth'ard, keeping as near the easterly edge as dared but being careful to plant each foot firm ly before taking a step. It must have been instinct which led me down the reef instead of up, for when l had walked a couple of hundred yards stumbled against a dark mass which
 
 shoal. The side toward me was so steep that I was afraid to climb it, so 1 walked carefully around, wondering at its odd overhanging formation at the westerly end At the southerly side ii sloped away in gentle decliv- ity, which l mounted with ease.
 The rock must have been at least 15 feet higher than the surrounding ledge, for I could see the sun through the water overhead. It was longest from east to west, and in the middle was small projection as high as my shoulders. II was this which sent q shivering conviction through me that 1 had found the wreck at last, and l eagerly searched for another proiec- lion at the westerly end. After talk ing about 20 steps l found if. or rath- CT I found q small lump of rock where it should have been; and his settled my last doubt. My first impression. that the foremast had broken off short CT than the main, was accounted for by the fact that the whole westerly end of the mound was two or three feet
 
 10 the other eud l found 1t several feet lower yet; so our theory as to the drift of Inc coral fragments had been absolutely correct. It now remained but to ascertain how thick the coating was on the northerly side, and rap idly scrambled down to where had first stumbled against the wreck.
 had brought the smaller steel bar with me from the proa. and this be- gan driving against the perpcndicular incrustaticn of coral at q spot near the stern. Atthe second blow sever slightly lostmy equilibrium, and found that the rock upon which 1 stood shelved rapidly. \ horror of the uh- fathomable depth which lay but few feet beyond made me throw mysei1 fiat upon the bottom, digging my nalis into the coral lest l should slip anh sink to I knew not where. Lying there until the beating of my heart slowed down to something like normal pui- sation, saw faint reflection cf hght beneath the keel-enough to show that several feet of the, stern hung sheer over the precipice.
 It must have been at least ten mn utes before I recovered strength enough to crawl back upon the hlgner portion of the ledge; then, realizing that my supply of air was nearly eA, hansted. I braced myself firmly ana began driving away with the steel bar ,.af, Tho coral easily crumblcd nn-