hundred oysters, which were swung over the longboat and
emptied into her, the second net having meanwhile been lowered down to
the diver.

And now there occurred a somewhat diverting episode; for no sooner was
the first net-load of oysters discharged into the longboat than the
skipper, unable any longer to endure the suspense, scrambled over the
side, armed with a formidable jack knife, and, leaping down into the
boat, seized an oyster and proceeded to force it open with the blade of
his knife, no doubt fully expecting to find at least one pearl of price
in it. But, alas! the poor man was doomed to disappointment, for there
was no sign or vestige of pearl in the fish, save the lovely iridescent
lining of the two shells. A second attempt fared no better, and the
disappointed seeker flung the shells far from him with a muttered
something that sounded not unlike an imprecation. But the good man was
not to be so easily put off. A third oyster was seized and savagely
wrenched open, and this time three diminutive seed pearls rewarded his
perseverance. Yet still he was not satisfied. A fourth oyster was
opened, and proved a blank; a fifth was seized, and as the two shells
were forced apart a magnificent pearl was revealed, together with some
six or eight much smaller ones. A shout of triumph apprised us all of
the fact that at last the search had proved successful; and the next
moment up came the skipper, his face aflame with delight and excitement,
to show all and sundry what a pearl looked like when fresh taken from
the parent fish.

Meanwhile the process of filling, hoisting, and emptying the nets went
steadily on for the best part of an hour, and then Cunningham signalled
that he was coming to the surface, some three thousand oysters having by
that time been secured. When Cunningham presently appeared, and the
glass of his helmet was unscrewed, he informed us that his makeshift
suit was perfectly watertight, and answered its purpose even better than
he had dared to expect, and that he had come up simply because he felt
fatigued with his unaccustomed work and needed a little rest. The
skipper thought this a good opportunity to change boats, so he sent away
the longboat with her load in charge of a couple of men, giving them
instructions how to dispose of the oysters; and the gig was hauled up
alongside in her place. Then the boatswain, who had all along
manifested the utmost interest in the diving question, volun