Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1918-03-15
CHAPTER ~Vlll.-contlnued.

f'hNt AMF Nlflpih out ny Ulti WIN
rather q light weight OF metal on our
feet, calculated to enable us TO walk
nnd yet not 90 keep us down. We
shall then simply climb the slopes Of
Fair Island under the water"
~ think II Is the only feasible plan,
SIR sald Davies brlskly.
"Ilow do you feel about Il, IdaT"
asked Donald IN n low tone.
Ida put her hand into his. 81 am
ready to do anything you wish, Dom
aid. denr," she answered.
"Ill answer for the lady with my
" life, SIR" snld Clouts heartily.
"rhen we're decided" snid Donald.
"Now, follow me In single file, hands
on the shoulders Of tho one In front
of you. All rendy7"
lie led the way through the dark
ness, down the ladder nj the base Of
the coming tower toward the storage
room In which the diving apparatus
wns kept. Then he NJ n candle.
The Slebert apparatus possesses the
merit of simplicity. Donald, ms he
adjusted II on cnch with the aid Of
Davies, did not think II necessary to
explain the mechanism. II consisted,
first, of n waterproof uniform, then OF
n glass mask aud copper cylinder, the
latter covering the upper part OF the
body and fastening about the shout
dcrs. II contained n supply OF COM
pressed oxygen for several hours. The
cnrbonlc acid cXhnled passed Into n
receptacle containing caustlc soda,
which purified II, thus llberating the
oxygen, while the nitrogen could be
inlinlcd over aud over again.
There was also n single sleeve at
tacled 10y wires to n little storage bat.
terry worn on the neck, In which, when
the apparatus had been properly nd
Jlsted, Il small electric light could be
made to burn by the pressure Of a
button.
They waited n moment while Ida
pnt on the waterproof uniform then
all followed suit. Donnld 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
snulfcd the candle and III his electric
lamp, which was Enclosed In n specially
devised glass, calculated TO resist n
grent pressure.
Each of the party was now sealed
from All sound. They saw each others
faces very dlmly through the ghlss
masks.
Donald indicated TO Davies that he
was to bring M the renr, his hands
upon the shoulders Of Sam Clouts In
front of him. lie placed Ida In front
Of Clouts, and, raising her hnnd1, put
thcm upon his own shoulders, himself
leading the procession.
lie made his way into the coming
tower agnln. lie opened the inner
chamber Of the alrlock. admitting Ida
aud himself, and closed II again. lie
knew that Clouts and Davies could
take care of themselves.
The airlock, built to be used for
escape In just such nn emergency, was
meant for one temporary tcnnnt alone
hut two could Just manage TO squeeze
IN. aud Ida could not have undertaken
the plunge alone.
They were breathing the stored QXy'
gen within the copper cylinders. 1hey
were safe for the present. The transit
was not especially perllous In Itself
but there were dnngers 10 fucc-th,
possibility OF being too heavily weight
ed and sinking into the oozc That OF
being too light ana losing balance
These hnd 20 be met.
Through fhc glass mask Donald saw
lda's face She WIS composed, and IL
spite of the distorilng medium hc wa.
sure that he saw q look OF trustfu
love lu her eyes.
lie Nluried the comnrossed-alr nppa
rntns io keep the sen water out of IN,
lock, and opened the outer door. The,
looked into the nothiugncss " IN,
ocean bottom. Tie wall Of lnky water
0us hardly illumlncd by the fnlnt llgh.
thut shonc from their slcovc-lamps.
ponuid pressed ldn's hand. lie Eel
her fingers luttcr Ia his, She under
stood what She was 20 do. she place,
her head ana shoulders within III,
aperture.
bonnld raised her feet ana pushe,
her into the sea. lie snw the night o
,fnter swallow her.
Ana. choking down his fears, h
plunged la after her.