. I'm
afraid it's only in model," said Baldwin.

"More's the pity," rejoined Edgar, "but I can go to London and
ascertain. In any case, I shall have to go to London to make inquiries,
and secure the necessary apparatus."

"Are you sure," said Baldwin, with a look of great solemnity, "that your
going to London has nothing whatever to do with apparatus of _that_
sort?"

He placed a blunt forefinger, as he spoke on the obliterated sketch of
the female head.

"Oh you suspicious old fellow!" replied Edgar; "come, you _are_
presuming now.--We will change the subject, and go on deck."

"Human natur's the same everywhere," observed Baldwin, with a quiet
laugh as he rose. "Same with me exactly when I was after Susan. For
one glance of her black eye I'd have gone straight off to China or
Timbuctoo at half-an-hour's notice. Well, well!--Now, Mister Eddy,
don't you think it would be as well for you to go down and have a look
at the wreck? You'll then be better able to judge as to what's best to
be done, an' I've got a noo dress by the firm of Denayrouze, with a
speakin'-apparatus, which'll fit you. I got it for myself, and we're
much about a size--barrin' the waist, in which I have the advantage of
you as to girth. Their noo pump and lamp, too, will interest you. See,
here is the pump."

As he spoke, the diver pointed to a pump which commended itself at first
sight by its extreme simplicity. Whether or not it was better than the
more complex, but well-tried, pumps of other makers, our hero was well
aware could only be proved by time and experience. Meanwhile he was
favourably impressed with it.

The peculiarities of the pump referred to were, first, and most obvious,
that it had no outer wooden case or box, and the parts were exceedingly
few and simple. It was on the lever principle, the cylinders, instead
of the pistons, being movable. The pistons were fixed to a bed-plate
and pointed upwards, so that the pump was, as it were, turned upside
down, a position which, among other advantages, allowed of the plungers
being covered with water, through which the air was forced and partially
cooled. Another and important peculiarity was an air-reservoir which
received air from the pump direct, and then passed it on to the diver,
so that even if the pumps should stop working there would still be a
supply of air flowing down to the diver for several minutes. The lamp
referred to was also a novelty, inasmuch as it was