Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1924-06-06


he said in a low tone.
yes that was about what | imag-
ined," replied Donald. "It is about as
much as the old F55 would stand with
out buckling."
but two hundred is the extreme
limit Of deep-sea diving, sir" Davies
protested.
THE Slebert apparatus is especially
devised for going deeper than that"
returned Donald. "In fact, Siebert
himself went down to six hundred,
though he was all in when he came up.
You see, Davies the new factor In the
Siebert dress is that 1t has a compen-
sating pressure. l didn't specialize on
1t, but l understand it Is a sort of
Internal oxygen arrangement, COM
pressed, which partly neutralizes the
pressure outside. II has enough COM
/ pressed oxygen TO last six hours.
"Now, my plan is thls We must
leave the airlock one by one, with
rather a 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"
Il think 1t is the only feasible plan,
sir" said Davies brisl1ly.
'iow do you feel about 1t, Ida2"
asked Donald in a low tone
Ida put her hand into his. 81 am
ready to do anything you wish, Don
aid, deaEN she answered.
'q'll answer for the lady with my
own life, sir" said Clouts heartily.
"Then we're decided" said Donald.
"Now, follow me In single fle hands
on the shoulders of the one In front
OF you. All ready?"
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 candle.
The Siebert apparatus possesses the
merit of simplicity. Donald, as he
adjusted it on each with the aid OF
Davies, did not think it necessary to
explain the mechanism. 1t consisted,
first, of "A waterproof uniform, then OIL
glass mask and copper cylinder, the
latter covering the upper part OF the
body and fastening about the shout
ders. II contained a supply of COM
pressed oxygen for several hours. TheI
carbonic acid exhaled passed into a
receptacle containing caustic soda,
which purified 1t, thus liberatlng the
oxygen, while the nitrogen could bel
Inhaled over and over again.
There was also single sleeve at,
tached by wires to a little storage bait
terry worn on the neck, in which, when
the apparatus had been properly ad-
iusted, 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 liz his electric
lamp, which was Enclosed in a 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
If Clouts, and, raising her hands, put
hem upon his own shoulders himself
eading the procession.
He made his way into the coming
over again. He opened the inner
hamber of the airlock, admitting Ida
nd himself, and closed 1t again. He
new that Clouts and Davies could
AXE care of themselves.
The airlock, built TO be used for
scape In just such an emergency, was
leant for one temporary tenant alone.
tut two could just manage 20 squeeze
q, and Ida could not have undertaken
he plunge alone.
They we're breathing the stored oxy-
en- within the copper cylinders. They
'ere safe for the present. The transit
'as not especially perilous In itself,
Ut tnefe were uanBerS 10 1ace-tne
disability of being too heavily weight
! and sinking into the ooze; that of
cling too light and losing balance.
hese had to be met.
Through the glass mask Donald saw
las face. She was composed, and, in
ute Of the distorting medium, he was
ire that he saw a look of trustful
We In her eyes.
He started the compressed-air appa-
tus to keep the sea water out of the
ok, and opened the outer door. They
oked into the nothingness of the
.ean bottom. The wall of inky water
as hardly illumlned by the faint light
at shone from their sleeye-lamps.
Donald pressed Ida's hand. lie felt
n fingers futter in his. She under
God what she was to do. She placed
n head and shoulders within the
'erture,
Donald raised her feet and pushed