The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-10-16
CHAPTER VII.
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THE WORLD BENEATH THE WATERS
As the Eureka began to settle down
through the waters the four watchers
found that at first their view was q
tolerably wide one. The most striking
popularity which they noticed was
that, in place of the atmosphere which
they had just left, they seemed to be
looking through an immense mass OF
bottle green glass. The roof of the con.
ming tower, which was not transparent,
prevented them from seeing directly
overhead, and as the angle at which
they could catch a glimpse of the sur
face of the ocean above them was less
by several degrees than the critical an
gle the result was that this surface be-
came to them one swaying, shimmering
mirror. The sky above was not visible
through it, but objects in the sea below
were reflected in strange, distorted
forms on its constantly moving surface.
But the scenery of the outer air and
the doings of the world above were not
in the thoughts of any of the party at
that moment, for in the populatio of
the world of waters through which they
were passing there was an absorbing
interest.
The captain recognized and pointed
out to the others some old acquaintance
Of the fish shop but alive and at home
they presented very different appear
ance from the limp. unpleasant looking
masses Of fabbiness which are vended
from marble slab at SO much pound
Dolly commented with some surprise
on the fact that the fish did not seem to
be in the least shy, as she had ma turally
expected that they would, and it was
certainly curious sight to see them
come docking up from all parts of the
distance, and then, poising themselves
motionless near the sinking vessel, look
at her with solemn, unwinking eyes.
Dolly declared that they made her feel
creepy.
Still the sea poured into the tanks,
and the ketch went down, down, down |
The pale green light darkened with ev-
cry fathom and became first weird,
wintry looking twilight, such as one
sees through the deeper blues of a
church window on dark November's
day. Then the gloom grew blacker, and
finally came the inky darkness of night.
DR.. Tring scraped match and APP
piled it to jet behind his head. It lit
with pale blue flame. Then he turned
another stopcock, and after prelimi-
nary swishing noise a thin pencil Of
hame directed itself on to email cyl
Under Of lime, which presently began to
glow whitley Then he closed the case
in which the apparatus was held, adj
justed a lens and removed cap A
brilliant beam of light streamed forth
into the murky waters.
'sThat, said the doctor, sis a use to
which an ordinary oxyhydrogen magic
lantern has seldom been put Electricity
might have been better perhaps but /
could not hit upon a method of produce
ing it satisfactorily. But. thanks to
modern commercial enterprise, which
supplies oxygen and hydrogen power
fully condensed in light steel cylin-
ders. this form of illumination serves
our purposes very well. =
How deep are we now, doctor?'
Dolly asked.
The doctor pointed to thing like a
steam gauge with the dial marked off in
fathoms. The index had touched ga,
and IT was still falling. "We've LOT
farther to go yet before we fetch up, y
he answered.
'.The air feels queer, remarked
Guthrie.
That, = replied the doctor, sis be.
cause it is becoming gradually com
pressed. As the water ballast flows into
our tanks SO the air which filled them
before is pushed out and sends up the
pressure throughout the rest of the yes
sell ] might have let it escape over
board, but breathable oxygen is valu-
able, and preferred to store it. There
are eight of us on board, and, reckon
ing the consumption per head at is
gallons per hour, we shall have enough
to last us for "A hours easily, and more
at q pinch. .
"What about the carbonic acid o.
asked Guthrie
"Those fat tins, which you helped
me to lay about the hold, are meant tc
deal with that" replied the doctor.
carbon dioxide is heavy, you know,
and will naturally seek the lowest levels
of the vessel. The tins are filled with
strong caustic potash solution, and will
require nothing more than an occasion.
al shaking up to make them mop up the
excess of carbon Gioxide."
"But won't the oxygen in the air be
come unduly diluted, and consequently
difficult to breathe, before long, even il
the carbonic acid is removed?''
GIVE provided for that too. shall
let out fresh supply Of oxygen from
the cylinders. But oxygen is expensive,
and the number of cylinders is limited
SOFAS soon as breathing becomes at all
difficult, i shall take the Eureka up te
the surface again and get my supply Of
wind fresh from there.
"But, put in Dolly. wouldn't il
be better to stay down as long as we
possibly can and finish the thing in one
diver Surely you would be able to gel
as many pillar dollars on board in "a
hours as we shall want.
II dare say it would be possible, Dol
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