The midland journal., 1917-11-16
CHAPTER NIII.-continued.

10
snow, my plan is this: We must
leave the airlock one by one; with
rather light weight of metal on our
feet, calculated to enable us to walk,
and yet not to keep us down. We
shall then simply climb the slopes of
Fair island under the water"
II think it is the only feasible plan,
SIR" said Davies briskly.
"How do you feel about it, Ida?"
asked Donald in low tone.
Ida put her hand into his. II am
ready to do anything you wish, DON
aid, DEAR" she answered.
'Tll answer for the lady with my
own life, sir" said Clouts heartily.
'aThen we're decided" said Donald.
Now, follow me in single file, hands
on the shoulders Of the one in front
of you. All readyY'
He led the way through the dark
ness, down the ladder at the base of
the coming tower toward the storage
room in which the diving apparatus
was kept. Then he lit a candle.
The Siebert apparatus possesses the
merit of simplicity. Donald, as he
adjusted 1t on each with the aid Of
Davies, did not think it necessary to
explain the mechanism. 1t consisted,
drst, of a waterproof uniform, then of
q glass mask and copper cylinder, the
: latter covering the upper part Of the
body and fastening about the shoul-
ders. 1t contained supply of COM
pressed oxygen for several hours. The
carbonic acid exhaled passed into a
receptacle containing caustic soda,
which purified it, thus liberating the
oxygen, while the nitrogen could be
inhaled over and over again.
There was also single sleeve at
tached by wires to little storage bat
terry worn on the neck, in which, when
the apparatus had been properly ad-
justed, a small electric light could be
made to burn by the pressure Of a
button.
They waited a moment while Ida
put on the waterproof uniform; then
all followed suit. Donald and Davies
dressed themselves after Clouts, and
attached the weights about the feet
of each and to their own. Finally,
when all were in readiness, Donald
snuffed the candle and lit his electric
lamp, which was inclosed in specially
devised glass, calculated to resist a
great pressure.
Each of the party was now sealed
from all sound. They saw each others
faces very dimly through the glass
masks.
Donald indicated to Davies that he
was to bring up the rear, his hands
upon the shoulders Of Sam Clouts in
front Of him. He placed Ida in front
of Clouts, and, raising her hands, put
them upon his own shoulders, himself
leading the procession.
He made his way into the coming
tower again. He opened the inner
chamber Of the airlock, admitting Ida
and himself, and closed it again. He
knew that Clouts and Davies could
take care of themselves.
The airlock, built to be used for
escape in just such an emergency, was
meant for one temporary tenant alone.
But two could just manage to squeeze
In, and Ida could not have undertaken
the plunge alone.
They were breathing the stored oxy-
gen within the copper cylinders. They
were safe for the present. The transit
was not especially perilous in itself,
but there were dangers to face-the
possibility Of being too heavily weight
ed and sinking into the ooze; that of
being too light and losing balance.
These had to be met.
Through the glass mask Donald saw
Ida's face. She was composed, and, in
spite of the distorting medium, he was
sure that he saw a look of trustful
love in her eyes.
He started the compressed-air appa-
ratus to keep the sea water out of the
lock, and opened the outer door. They
looked into the nothingness Of the
ocean bottom. The wall of inky water
was hardly illumined by the faint light
that shone from their sleeve-lamps.
Donald pressed Ida's hand. He felt
her fingers fiutter in his. She under
stood what she was to do. She placed
her head and shoulders within the
aperture.
Donald raised her feet and pushed
her into the sea. He saw the night OF
water swallow her.
And, choking down his fears, he
plunged in after her.