The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-12-20

he meantime. waited for the cap
.ain to recover his breath. When he
lid so, he asked:
"What is the condition of your
hearth
Good" laughed, "and in the
right place."
GLOW about the top of your
head7 he next demanded.
My head! What in the round world
did he mean? / felt of it: it seemed
about as usual, but the captain evil
IDENTIFY meant to see for himself. APP
preaching me. he asked permission to
feel my head. which, after rumpling
my pompadour a good deal. was final
" accomplished. suppose l must
have looked unasked questions. for the
captain proceeded to explain.
If the top of the head is flat. = he
said, "the~ pressure of the water is
too great. and often causes sudden
paralysis; but if it is arched. like
NINE" he added, running hand
throl gh his gray mop of curls. Zone
can go down in safety on that score.
Yet there is danger" he gravely
hesitated. .tand l shall assume q
great responsibility if agree to what
you propose"
My dear captain, - l broke in,
"though / fully realize the danger.
it will not be the first time in my life
that have faced it. and 1 have
absolutely no fear.''
well, young lady. your nerve is
evidently all right. anyway. SO you
may come along he said. with a
decision that put a period to that.
Away we went to the wharf and
were soon abroad the Rowena. the
gang plank in and steaming away up
the bay. Presently the two divers
came on deck fully equipped for ac-
ton. looking more like some hideous
monsters of the deep than human be-
ings. They gave the man who had
charge of the life line and air pump
the signals. and few moments later
4 stood leaning over the deck rail
watching the waves ripple over the
spot where they had disappeared.
The captain reminded me that'it
was time should make my subma-
rine toilet ifefstill desired to tempt
providence, but again tried to dis
suade me. For answer l called back
from the door of the cabin assigned to
me that should probably need his
assistance. in the absence of my maid,
in adjusting that fifty-six-pound lead
en- belt, as that was somewhat heavier
than l was accustomed to wearing. /
have made many kinds Of toilets to
serve purpose. but for sheer ugliness
and discomfort, that waterproof won
the championship. According to Kip
ling, was only ga rag, bone. and
a hank of hair. /" but with all due
respect to Mr.. Kipling, his pleasing
definition of woman was, in this in
stance. at any rate, a misfit. When
/ finallymanaged. with the captains
aid to shuttle myself on deck. didn't
feel like housekeeping. weighted with
leaden shoes of nineteen pounds each,
a belt of fifty-six pounds. an he'll
met weighing fifty pounds. The div
ers had recovered the lost anchor and
were just being hauled aboard.
/ was already and the last moment
had arrived: my heart was pounding
away at nv side like sledge ham.
mer. Capt. Whitelaw gave me the
code of signals again. handed me the
long sheathed knife such as the div
ers always carry for protection. and
with last reassuring pressure of the
hand 1 was lowered to the water. For
a brief instant Tennyson's lines flash
ed into my mind.
s'And now shake hands across the
brink
Of that deep grave to which I go
I cannot sink so far, far down
But / shall know thy voice
And answer from below"
AS the water crept up around m.
body, my heart seemed to CULVER ant
stand still. / felt as one might wa,
was being inferred alive and coule
hear the clods Of earth as they fel
upon the coffin lid. Lower and still
lower / sank. the water reached m.
breast, then my throat: anothe
moment and l could see, it creepin
over the windows of my helmet: the
it had closed over my head. A wav
of unutterable helplessness swept owe
me. What insignificant atoms "
are that go to make up Gods gre,