Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1899-07-13

Cameron aDds the man she sang for.
at one time and another the pair of us
put in fairish deal of talk. His air
pump needed DIT of an overhaul, and
as | was set on to help him we had
plenty of opportunity. But I'll not say
we got much off general topics He
seemed man in desperate hurry to
get rich, and most every day he'd ask
me if could point him out plan. But
my answer to him was always the same
"Man. i" I'd say, ''I'd no be acting
as third engineer on an odd job steam
boat like this if I'd plan handy to my
fingers such as you seem to want
And then he'd shake his head and
sigh and fall to talking about the meth
DDS by which he and his mate hoped to
get the gold boxes out Of the wreck and
down into the Cleaners hold. I sup
pose ought to have seen what he was
after then. But didn't. I'd only get
it in mind that he wanted to marry
Miss Bradbury and didn't see his way
to lingering enough money ready to set
up housekeeping upon.
We'd an easy bay and good run
down, and we made Grand Canary one
morning just before the dawn. We ran
into Las Palmas harbor and saw Ten
erlfe far away across the sand neck,
with its sunny head rosy in the sun
rise. We'd a day there making arrange
ments and getting in some stores, and
then we steamed out again and made
for the spot where the Corinth had gone
down and brought up to an anchor and
lowered fires.
Before Us lay the open sea, behind
were the dry cinder hills of Grand Ca
nary, and above We're blue heaven and
sun of dancing brass. The day was friz-
cling, the island gave us lee out Of
the southeast trade, and there was no
breath of wind astir. The water lay like
a sheet of metal. No divers could have
asked for a better prospect. We got
their two boats into the water, each
with air pump. rowers, cockswain, man
to tend the life lines and men to pump.
and off they rowed, 100 yards apart
Presently the air pumps began to turn.
and the diver. like some white uncanny
sea beast, went over from each After
pause the boats pulled slowly ahead
Cameron and his mate We're walking
along the sea floor. SEARCHING for the
wreck.
Twas off watch and stood leaning my
elbows en- the gallant rail of the lower
deck and smoked and looked about me.
The water was full Of these little pink
sailed jellyhsh that we sea folk call
Portuguese memo war, though "nau-
titus is, | believe, the fancy name.
pointed them out to Miss Bradbury,
who was standing near. and asked her
if she'd like one caught.
"Do you think there's much danger.
Mr.. McTodd?" says she.
"They'v We just wee sting to them if
they get upon your hands," said /.
"But there's no need to touch them.
You can just crafty your eyes, and then
we will fling them overheard again.
They'r no beauties that you'd care to
keep and take home with YOU like
canary bird.
"What do you mean 2" says she.
'I'm talking of these Portuguese
memo war.
She put her hand upon my arm, and
locked up into her face and saw it
was as white as paper, saving for black
rings under the eyes. II beg your par
don Mr.. Mc'fodd, for being so mat
tentive. I'm afraid my thoughts are
under the sea instead of on top of it.
Is this diving very dangerous work?
Their air tubes might get entangled.
They're too old hands to let them
foul. =
"Or they may get swept away by
currents.
''Their life lines will keep them in
tow
''Or sharks.