Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-10-12
Rob's Wa1ki7o
the Deep
Sea

Sea
| 1t was a famous walk, for Bob was
actually unable to cross his bedroom
floor. His pet pony had thrown him a
week before, and there he was in bed,
his leg stretched and, as his father
said, tethered as his pony should be
until he learned to do better. Bob, we'll
and strong, was self-reliant; but Bob,
weakened by pain and inactivity, be-.
gan to feel his dependence on others.
He begged the nurse to call his SIS
ter Emily, who, when she saw his pale
face and wistful eyes, felt twinge Of
remorse that she had thoughtlessfy
waited for this appeal before coming
to help him.
20 Nellie" sighed Bob, II can't
think of anything but just what can't
do-riding and hop-scotch and ball and
all the rest. Can't you tell me some
thing can do and lie still. you know"
you can crochet, or hem handker-
chief. or dress doll or"-but seeing
the look of pain on her brothers face,
she paused; then, rendering the book
she had been reading, she added, "or
we can play deep-sea diving and take
a walk under water, that will be great
fun"
you'll have to do the diving, Mel
lie," said Bob, plaintiyely, but he
frightened with the next thought. Il
know all about a divers toggery,
though, and there's no girl who could
wear half of it. I'd like to see you try
it, Mell,' and Bob actually laughed
gleefully.
well then" Emily responded good
naturally, glad to see the pale face
brighten, "well play I have an armor
made especially for a young girls
strength, and we are all ready to go
down. We will start from the beach
and SO descend gradually, as II down
a long hill. We can walk many miles
in this way. But the light fades very
soon, and we will go slowly, for we
want to take notice Of all the things
in shallow water first. We see schools
of porpoises and salmon and sardines
here are some as close together as
If packed in a box for the market.
Take one, Bob, and see how you like
him."
Bob smacked his lips appreciatively
and laughed again. Polly wants a
cracker to 80 with him." he cried.
1--WE can't stop" exclaimed Emily,
as If in excitement. Here are great
many creatures that look like fish
who come to the surface to breathe;
and here Is herd Of seals, emigrating
to seek better fortune; and oh, Bob.
here are immense whales! Not many
of them, only the ones who like ad-
venture and SO dive down far below
the surface" H..
81 wish I'd brought harpoon!"
sighed Bob, under his breath.
CHOW we go deeper" said Emily, in
a dreamy tone, with her hands cover
ing her eyes, as II to see better thus
through the eyes of her mind, land
we leave these fish who like to come
up to the air sometimes. Down we go.
fifteen hundred feet, and the darkness
is awful! Turn on the electric light
in your helmet, Bob"
"Ay, az, sir" responded Bob, breath.
lessly, feeling that nautical form OF
speech was the only one appropriate
See those scarlet shrimps, the cum
ming little dwarfs! Here comes a
funny crab, with long, thin legs, max
ing him look as if he had mounted a
pair Of stills. Some Of them are blind.
but they don't mind It," added Emily
comfortingly. EVERY drop of water IS
alive" she continued, land there's
something like rain.storm, as we go
deeper, only It Is rain of the minutest
forms of life, which sometimes die on
the bottom Of the sea and make
nasty ooze with long name, and we
walk through 1t with great difficulty"
IT said you couldn't stand the
armor," cried Bob, exultlngly. II don't
mind it," ....0
'Now we go DEEPER" said Emily.
too full Of her subject to notice the
interruption, "and still we find life,
though it is so cold and though the
pressure is so great The fishes are
blind. and their shape Is strange and
wierd Sunlight never reaches here.
and the wonder Is that anything can
live Ugh! the water is icy cold"
Emily shuddered, and Bob drew the
bedcovers over his shoulders.
"Now we are over a mile from the
surface and the blind fishes carry
queer, phosphorescent lights. There
are ever so many living creatures in
ever so many different shapes that
carry their own light, some in their
bodies, some in their heads and some
in their eyes. But all these strange
creatures prey upon each other, and
think they ought to be left in the
dark"
ooh that's all right. How would they
know which was the stronger and
most fit to live" said Bob, with his
sex's appreciation of natures first
principles. .L..s
"Well, come on little farther
down o Bob, see that big. blaze of
light! We are in beautiful field,
which looks like field of-of-prai
RE grass only every grass blade has a
tiny light on it's tip, and they all wave
to and fro as if a breeze were blowing
gently over them. The stalks are
three or four feet high. Do you know