Gunnison news-champion., 1916-11-17

efu cu0SI OF Seytpu- War utpN We~t u
the bay or. rather. gulf. fS iss~l i,y
the mainland and the island of Mauaar.
There. under the dark waters. stretch
ed the pintadine bank IN inex haustt
ble deid Of pearls. the length III whts'h
b more than twenty miles
Captain Memo. Ned Land. Consei'
and took our places In the stern N
the boat The master went to- the I'll
Ter. his four COMPANIONS leaned ot
their oars. the painter was cast off. au,i
We sheered on
The oarsmen did not hurry noticed
that their strokes. strong In the water.
followed each other only every ten
seconds. according to the. method gen
orally adopted In the navy. While the
craft was running by its own veiority
the liquid drops struck the dark depths
Of the waves crisply like spats Of melt
ed lead A little billow. spreading
wide. gave q slight roll to the boat.
and some samphire reeds tapped te
fore IT.
We were silent whnt was Captain
Memo thinking Of? Perhaps OF the
hnAAo uC " - @PlVyoSutnk ~uN ~ os< y @sS
| found too near to him. contrary to the
Canadian's opinion. who thought II too
far Oh. As to COnseil. be was merely
there from curiosity
About half past the nrxt unts on
the horizon showed the upper line OF
coast more distinctly Flat enough In
the east. II rose little TO the south.
Five miles still lay between us. and
II was indistinct. owing to the mist on
the water. At O O'Clock II became sud
denly daylight. with that rapidity pc
culiar to tropical regions which know
neither da wn nor twilight. The solar
rays piered the curtain of clouds piled
up on the eastern horizon. and the ra-
dlant orb rose rapidly saw land dis
tinctly. with q few trees scattered
I here and there The boat neared Ma.
! naar island. which was rounded to the
south. Captain Memo rose from his
seat and watched the sea
! At sign from him the anchor was
dropped. but the chain scarcely ran.
for II was little more than a yard
deep. and this spot was one OF the
highest points Of the bank Of pinta
dimes.
Here we are. NJ. Aronnax." said
/ Captain Memo. ''You see that inciosed
bay? Here in a month will he as
/ sembled the numerous fishing boats OF
the exporters. and these are the waters
their divers will ransack 40 boldiy
Happily. this bay II well situated for
that kind Of fshing II h sheltered
from the strongest winds. The sea Ii
never very rough here. which makes
It favorable for the divers work. We
win now put on our dresses and begin
our walk
did not answer and while watch.
/ Ing the suspected waves began with
the help Of the sailors to put on my
heavy sea dress. Captain Memo and
my companions were also dressing.
None Of the Nautilus men were to &C.
company ~ on this new excursion.
Soon we were enveloped to the throat
In india rubber clothing. the air ap-
paratus fixed to our backs by braces
As to the Ruhmkorn apparatus. there
was NO necessity for II. Before put
ting my head into the copper cap had
asked the question Of the captain
"They would be useless" he replied.
I'VE are going to no great depth. and
the solar rays will be enough TO light
our walk. Besides. It would not be
prudent to carry the electric light In
these waters. Its brilliancy might at.
tract some Of the dangerous inha bitants
Of the coast most inopportuneIy."
As Captain Memo pronounced these
words turned to Conseii and Ned
Land. But my two friends had al
ready incased their heads In the metal
cap. and they could neither bear nor
answer.
One last question remained to ask
Of Captain Memo.
-And our arms" asked I--our
guns?''
/ .Cuns! What fort Do not noun
taineers attack the bear with dagger
In their hand. and IL not steel surer
than lead? Here is strong blade
Put II in your belt and We start"
looked at my companions. They
were armed like u. and. more than
thnt. Ned Land was brandishing an
enormous harpoon. which be had plac-
ed In the boat before leaving the Nan.
titus.
Then. following the captains exam
pie. | allowed myself to be dressed In
the heavy copper helmet. and our res
ervoirs Of air were at once In activity.
An instant after we were landed. one
after the other. In about two feet OF
water upon an even sand. Captain
Memo made sign with his hand. and
we followed him by gentle declivify
till we disappeared under the waves.
Over our feet. like coveys Of snipe IN
bog. rose shoals OF dsh OF the genus
monOptera. which have no other 6ns
but their tall. recognized the Jaw
anese. a real serpent two and half
feet long. Of lIvid color underneath
and which might easily lie mistaken for
. conger eel II Il was mot for the golden
stripes on itA Sides In the gepus
/ otpOur tame ~ vf,rr~a 1,rdSo- - vArv Ii