Part 44 (1/2)

THE OCEAN DEPTHS

The nextdawned and Brandon hurried to the rock and looked around During the night a slight wind had sprung up, and was still gently breathing Far over the wide sea there was not a sail to be seen

The brig had passed away They were finally left to themselves

Now at last the tier to make the attempt, and soon the yacht was unmoored, and moved slowly out to sea in the direction of Needle Island A light breeze still blew fitfully, but promised at any moment to stop; yet while it lasted they passed onward under its gentle iradually reached Needle Island, and went on into the sea beyond

Before they had come to the spot which they wished to attain the breeze had died out, and they were co the sun was burning hot, the as laborious, and the progress was slow Yet not a ue enter the minds of any of the that all lesser thoughts and all ordinary feelings were completely obliterated After two hours of steady labor they at last reached a place which seeue due north of Needle Islet Looking back they saw that the rocks on the island seeether, and thinner and sharper, so that they actually bore a greater rese else

Here they sounded The water was fifteen fathoreat a depth as they had feared Then they put down the anchor, for although there was no wind, yet the yacht radually away froht position

The s astern with the puht readily be accos at the bottom of the sea

But there was the prospect that this search would be long and arduous, and Brandon was not willing to exhaust himself too soon He had already resolved that the first exploration should be eelo The Hindu had followed Brandon in all his wanderings with that silent sub Hindus than any other people He had the air of one as satisfied with obeying his ht be given He are that they were about to explore the ocean depths, but showed no curiosity about the object of their search It was Brandon's purpose to send hiht see if there was any thing there which looked like what they sought

Asgeelo--or Cato, as Brandon commonly called hi his class--the apparatus which the pearl-divers have used ever since pearl-diving first commenced Twelve or fifteen stones were in the boat, a flask of oil, and a sponge which was fastened around his neck These were all that he required Each stone weighed about thirty pounds One of these he tied around one foot; he saturated the sponge with oil, so as to use it to inhale air beneath the water; and then, standing on the edge of the boat and flinging his arht up over his head, he leaped into the water and went down feet foremost

Over the seelo had disappeared, extending in successive concentric circles, and radiating in long undulations far and wide Louis and Frank waited in deep suspense Asgeelo re beneath the water, but to thehtful in its duration Profound anxiety began to le with the suspense, for fear lest the faithful servant in his devotion had over-rated his powers--lest the disuse of his early practice had weakened his skill--lest the weight bound to his foot had dragged him down and kept him there forever

At last, when the suspense had becolances aled far to the right He struck out strongly toward the boat, which was at once rowed toward him In a few minutes he was taken in He did not appear to be

[Illustration: ”A dark, sinewy ar, keen knife”]

They then rowed about a hundred yards further, and Asgeelo prepared to descend once ain But this time he took a knife in his hand

”What is that for?” asked Frank and Louis

”Sharks!” answered Cato, in a terrible tone

At this Louis and Frank exchanged glances Could they let this devoted servant thus tempt so terrible a death?

”Did you see any sharks?” asked Louis

”No, Sahib”

”Why do you fear them, then?”

”I don't fear them, Sahib”

”Why do you take this knife?”