Part 13 (1/2)
S-w-ish-ish-ish!+ The roar of the water, as the powerful pu tanks, filled the interior of the Barr sube, and the boys now learned for what purpose several handholds were attached to the cabin walls!
”Say, this is a queer sensation, isn't it?” gasped Merritt, looking rather alarine roo tower the hatch which gave entrance and egress when on the surface had been claain?” exclaiot an awful lot to eat on board,” muroing?” spoke Merritt, as five minutes passed and still the _Peacemaker_ continued her descent into the depths of the sea
All at once the tilting motion ceased, the _Peacemaker's_ stern tanks were filled, and she floated on an even keel Leaving the care of the wheel to Ensign Hargreaves, who, as we knoas familiar with the usual type of submarine, Mr Barr came into the cabin
”Well, boys, what do you think of it?” he asked with a sreat,” rejoined Tubby, with a notable lack of his usual assurance
”And now I suppose you'd like to see what the bottom of the sea looks like We are down some two hundred fathoms and about fifty s look down here?”
”Hoill that be possible?” asked Merritt
By way of reply Mr Barr went to the starboard wall of the cabin and pulled a lever connecting with a worreat section of the _Peacelassset between the inner and outer ”skins” of the craft
The boys crowded round theand peered out eagerly But to their disappoints than if they had been looking out of a trainon a dark night It was as black as a wolfs mouth at those unknown depths
”Why, we can't see anything,” caruntled chorus
”Wait a minute,” smiled the inventor
[Illustration: THE BOYS CROWDED ROUND THE WINDOW AND PEERED OUT EAGERLY]
Pressing a button, he extinguished the cabin lights Then he opened a sort of closet in the wall alongside theand swung out a powerful, though sht attached to an adaptable arm in the sa sound, and a flood of white light pierced the blackness outside The boys broke into delighted exclamations as the powerful rays revealed all sorts of fish, ht
Suddenly a dark, shadowy for into view Instantly the other fish vanished, and the boys saw that the newco
No doubt he wondered who the strangers in his deep sea abode could be, for he swa the boys to shrink back
They quite forgot that between thelass as strong alazed at thefor an instant and then vanished With its disappearance, the other fish reappeared and kept the sub round a shi+p entering port
”I wonder if they are hungry and want us to throw soazed at the finny tribes darting here and there in the searchlight's rays
”Gracious, do you think that the fish have the sahed Merritt
”Just the saht broiled,”
declared the stout youth, at which there was a general laugh