Part 41 (2/2)
”It should be your business to see that the sun did not check it. I shall have to place you on the report,” replied the officer.
”I was ordered to get the apparatus on deck this morning, sir.”
”Davis, signal the s.h.i.+p to send out another diving suit. Tell them this one is out of order.”
”Aye, aye, sir.”
”Ask them to send it out in a hurry, for the wind is coming up. I fear we shall have some rough water. Hickey, sit up there. Don't you know it is against the regulations to lounge about in the small boats? I am surprised at you.”
Sam's face flushed. He sat up, gripping his signal staff half angrily.
He made no complaint, but saluted. Sam was not in the best of humor at this moment. He took an instant and violent dislike for the young officer who had rebuked him.
Dan, in the meanwhile, was wig-wagging to the s.h.i.+p, sending the request for another diving suit.
A few moments later, as he peered through the spy gla.s.s, he saw a boat starting off in their direction.
”Motor boat under way. I think she is coming with the diving suit, sir,”
Davis called.
”Very good. Have you located that mine yet, men?”
”I think we have, sir.”
”Then hold it. Do not let it get away from you. We shall remain on the anchorage here until you get your anchor down.”
As soon as this had been done the wherry moved up closer, keeping just far enough away to avoid interfering with the diver when he got at his work on the bottom of the sea.
Immediately upon the arrival of the motor boat the men began hurriedly a.s.sisting Kester on with his diving suit, for it was getting late, and the wind was freshening considerably.
”All ready to put the diver overboard, sir.”
”Very good. Make sure that all is well before doing so.”
”All is in proper condition.”
The diver, as he stood waiting for the order to descend, appeared in his diving suit like some strange and hideous monster from the deep. Sam gazed at him in wide-eyed wonder.
”Then put him over.”
A splash followed, the diver disappearing beneath the water, while the diver's a.s.sistants rapidly paid out the rubber tubing and the ropes attached to the diver's costume.
”Bottom, sir,” announced the man at the ropes.
”Watch his signals.”
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