so, for, in order to counterpoise
the forward weight of the big helmet, the weight on the diver's back is
five pounds heavier than that in front. The instant his legs were in the
water, however, the terrible weight of the leaded boots was gone.

A final glance at his chum showed him that Bob, now steadied down to
desperate work, was turning the big wheel with one hand and holding the
lifeline in the other, ready to pay it out. At that, Mart gathered up
all his courage, sidled off the landing, and let himself drop.

For an instant the sensation was terrible, as he saw the green water
closing over him, and the sunlight dimming overhead. Then an almost
imperceptible jerk, and he knew that Bob had stayed his fall downward,
and was lowering him more gradually. He had no fears as to Bob's
capability, and after that first instant he slowly collected himself to
the task in hand.

He forced himself to look downward, for now he found that the water was
growing darker about him, and he could feel it rushing past his bare
hands. The touch, strangely, gave him courage; the water was very warm
here in the lagoon, and it was something tangible, something that offset
the cold dread of the green dimness rising up at him.

Suddenly he felt a determined tug at the lifeline about his waist, and
as this was the usual code query as to how he was, he gave Bob a
responding tug. He was getting deeper now. Without the slightest
warning, he found that he was beginning to see things around him.

A fish darted past, almost flicking its tail against his front glass.
Then a long streamer of seaweed rose at his right, frightening him at
first in the belief that it was a snake. And with that, marine life was
all around him, there came a shock--and he knew that he had reached the
bottom, eight fathoms down!

Beyond a slight ringing in his ears, he felt no unwonted sensations. All
about him was marine life--shells and slime and solid coral underneath
his feet, with queer things that seemed to slide away from his presence.
There was a little seaweed, but not much; sponges, sea fans, and several
tiny writhing octopi that shot away and vanished in the obscurity. He
could distinctly hear the strokes of the pumps, regular and steady.

"Good old Holly!" he thought. "But--this ain't getting Jerry."

He realized that as there was no wreck in sight in front or to the
sides, and as the landing-stage of the _Seamew_ had been directly over
it, he must be fac