Everything worked well that night, and the ship made good progress.They rose to the surface the next morning to make sure of their position, and to get fresh air, though they did not really need the latter, as the reserve supply had not been drawn on, and was sufficient for several days, now that the oxygen machine had been put in running order.
On the second day the ship was sent to the bottom and halted there, as Mr.Swift wished to try the new diving suits.These were made of a new, light, but very strong metal to withstand the pressure of a great depth.
Tom, Mr.Sharp and Captain Weston donned the suits, the others agreeing to wait until they saw how the first trial resulted.Then, too, itwas necessary for some one acquainted with the machinery to remain in the ship to operate the door and water chamber through which the divers had to pass to get out.
The usual plan, with some changes, was followed in letting the three out of the boat, and on to the bottom of the sea.They entered a chamber in the side of the submarine, water was gradually admitted until it equaled in pressure that outside, then an outer door was opened by means of levers, and they could step outIt was a curious sensation to Tom and the others to feel that they were actually walking along the bed of the ocean.All around them was the water, and as they turned on the small electric lights in their helmets, which lights were fed by storage batteries fastened to the diving suits, they saw the fish, big and little, swarm up to them, doubtless astonished at the odd creatures which had entered their domain.On the sand of the bottom, and in and out among the shells and rocks, crawled great spider crabs, big eels and other odd creatures seldom seen on the surface of the water.The three divers found no difficulty in breathing, as there were air tanks fastened to their shoulders, and a constant supply of oxygen was fed through pipes into the helmets.The pressure of water did not bother them, and after the first sensation Tom began to enjoy the novelty of it.At first the inability to speak to his companions seemed odd, but he soon got so he could make signs and motions, and be understood.
They walked about for some time, and once the lad came upon a part of a wrecked vessel buried deep in the sand.There was no telling what ship it was, nor how long it had been there, and after silently viewing it.they continued on"It was great!" were the first words Tom uttered when he and the others were once more inside the submarine and had removed the suits."If we can only walk around the wreck of the Boldero that way, we'll have all the gold out of her in no time.There are no life-lines nor air-hose to bother with in these diving suits.""They certainly are a success," conceded Mr.Sharp.
"Bless my topknot!" cried Mr.Damon."I'll try it next time.I've always wanted to be a diver, and now I have the chance."The trip was resumed after the diving chamber had been closed, and on the third day Captain Weston announced, after a look at his chart, that they were nearing the Bahama Islands.
"We'll have to be careful not to run into any of the small keys," he said, that being the name for the many little points of land, hardly large enough to be dignified by the name of island."We must keep a constant lookout."Fortune favored them, though once, when Tom was steering, he narrowly avoided ramming a coral reef with the submarine.The searchlight showed it to him just in time, and he sheered off with a thumping in his heart.
The course was changed from south to east, so as to get ready to swing out of the way of the big shoulder of South America where Brazil takes up so much room, and as they went farther and farther toward the equator, they noticed that the waters teemed more and more with fish, some beautiful, some ugly and fear-inspiring, and some such monsters that it made one shudder to look at them, even through the thick glass of the bulls-eye windows.
