with
their sharp-pointed tails, and more than one blow fell on the suits of
the divers.

Had there been the least penetration, of course almost instant death
would have followed. For the sea, at that depth and pressure, entering
the suits would have ended life suddenly. But Tom had seen to it that
the suits were well made and strong, with a lining of steel. And
however great a thickness of leather the devil fish could send his
sting through, it could not overcome steel.

There was danger, though, that the slender tip might slip through the
steel bars across the windows in the helmets and shatter the glass. And
that would be as great a danger as if the suits themselves were
penetrated.

"We've got to fight 'em!" gasped Tom through his instrument, and,
seeing his chance, he gave another jab to the devil fish attacking him.
Koku, too, was standing up well under the attack of the monster he had
first wounded. Ned, watching his chance, got in several blows, first at
one and then at the other of the huge creatures. The third devil fish,
which had not been wounded, had disappeared. Finally Koku, with a
desperate blow, succeeded in severing the tail from the beast attacking
him, and that battle was over.

As if realizing that it had lost its power to harm, the devil fish at
once swam off, grievously wounded. Then Koku turned his attention to
Tom's enemy. Ned, too, lent his aid, and they succeeded in wounding the
creature in several places, so that it sank to the bottom of the sea
and lay there gasping.

Slowly the red waters cleared and the three divers, exhausted by the
fight, could view the remaining creature--the one wounded to death. It
was the largest of the three, and truly it was a monster. But it was
past the power to harm, and in a few minutes an under sea current
carried it slowly away. Later it would float, doubtless, or be devoured
by sharks or other ocean pirates before reaching the surface.

"Thank goodness that's over!" said Ned to Tom. "I don't want to see any
more of them."

"There may be more about," Tom said. "We'd better keep watch. Ned, you
lay off and Koku and I will work on the propellers. Then you can take
your turn."

This plan was followed. Koku, not being tired, did not need to stop
working, and he was the first to free his shaft partially of the
entangling weeds. Tom rapped a signal, the blades were slowly revolved
and then came free. A little later the second was in like condition.

"N