.

"Paying attention to their work," said Josh sharply, "and that's what
you're not doing."

"I'm only a few fathoms behind you, Josh, and I shall be waiting
directly. I say, when we're done let's row aboard."

"I don't want to row aboard," said Josh sourly, but watching the
progress of the boat the while.

"They've got regular diving things there, Josh, and an air-engine; and
the men go down. I should like to have a look."

"What are they going down for?" said Josh; "looking for oyster-beds?"

"No, no. Trelynn Mine is like to be flooded by the water that comes in
from one of the galleries under the sea, and the divers go down to try
and find the place where it gets in, and stop it with clay and cement."

"Humph! are they going to find it, d'yer think?"

"Yes, I believe so. They measure so exactly that they can put a boat
right over the place. I say, Josh, shouldn't you like to go down?"

"What! dive down?"

"Yes."

"I should just think not, indeed. A man's place is in a boat floating
atop of the water, and not going underneath. If man was meant to go
underneath he'd have gills and fins and scales, same as these here
pilchar's."

"Oh, yes, I know all that; but only think of trying on a diver's suit,
and being supplied with air from above, through a tube into your
helmet."

"This here dress is good enough for me, and my sou'-wester's a sight
better than any helmet I know, and the only air as I care about having
through a tube's 'bacco smoke."

"But shouldn't you like to go and see the diving?"

"Not I," said Josh, staring hard at the great lighter. "'Sides, when
we've done here, and the fish is all salted down, I want to row across
to the lighthouse."

"That will be going close by, Josh. I'll take an oar with you, and
let's stop on the way."

"Just couldn't think o' such a thing. Come, work away, lad," cried
Josh; and both he and Will did work away, the latter saying nothing
more, for he knew his man, and that there was eager curiosity and also
intense longing in the looks directed by the fisherman across the water
from time to time.

The result was, that, armed with a couple of good-sized pollack as a
present to the skipper in charge of the lighter, Josh Helston and his
young companion rowed alongside the well-moored vessel before the
morning was much older, and were soon on deck watching the proceedings
with the greatest interest.

One of the divers was just preparing to go down as t