ry respect, and its wearers were able to move with just as
much freedom and ease as if they had been on dry land. They accordingly
replied to the professor's inquiry with a brisk negative.

"And can you hear distinctly what I say?" continued the professor.

They replied that they could hear every word perfectly, only realising
when the question was asked that they were completely sheathed in metal
from head to foot, and that, consequently, the fact of their being able
to hear at all was somewhat singular.

"That is all right," exclaimed the professor. "I thought it would be
convenient if we could communicate freely with each other under water,
so I introduced a couple of small microphones into each helmet, hoping
they would answer the purpose. Mine are simply perfect, but I was
anxious to know if yours were also. Now, if you are quite ready I will
open the door."

The next moment the trap-door fell open, and a great black aperture
yawned before them.

"Light both your lamps," exclaimed the professor, "and pick your
footsteps. Remember, you are about to tread on strange ground."

The professor led the way, his armour-clad figure looming up black and
gigantic against the two overlapping discs of illuminated water before
him, and the other three followed closely in his footsteps. On emerging
from the trap-door they turned sharp to the left, and made their way
toward the bow along the tunnel-like passage between the ship's bottom
and the starboard bilge keel. This was soon traversed, and they then
found themselves on a tolerably firm, level, gravelly bottom. Emerging
from underneath the ship's bottom, they now extinguished their lamps for
a moment by way of experiment, and found that so clear was the water
that even at the great depth of ninety fathoms it was not absolutely
dark, a sombre greenish blue twilight prevailing in which the hull of
the ship towered above them vast and shadowy, yet with tolerable
distinctness. This twilight, however, was strongly illuminated at both
ends of the ship by the powerful electric lamps at the bow and stern,
all of which the professor had taken the precaution to light before
descending to the diving chamber.

"Those are our beacons," said the professor, pointing to these lamps,
"and we must be exceedingly careful not to stray beyond the reach of
their rays, otherwise we might experience great difficulty in finding
our way back to the ship. Are you all pretty comfortable