had peered through the lens in the conning tower

at they were now four hundred feet below

arked. "Lower the ship, Washington. Let us see if by getti

The increased ballast sunk the Porpoise still lower, and, in a few minutes

ave cleared the obstruct

e ship did not move. It shivered and trembled

in de exteror portion ob his anatomy," suggested Washin

nt squid or cuttle fish has at

" replied

the inventor. "However, we

e the end of the tube from inside the ship, and, even i

it while here, under the

but I don't believe you can stay under, in this dep

n," answered

ow

shington, bring ou

y minute, went to a locker and brought out wh

be able to go out, walk along the ocean bed, and inve

Mark, who was incl

ntion. Besides the regular rubber suits there is an interlining of steel,-something like the ancient suits of chain mail-to withstand the great pressure of water. The

Jack, and Mark also

in the tank to last for nearly a day. It is admitted to the helmet as needed by means of automatic valves. In other respects the di

great ocean, the two boys were anxious to try the

essor, before their helmets were screwed o

they?" a

e professor. "But come on n

copper helmets on, and they were as tightly enclosed as if insid

found it hard to walk, as they were weighted down by the heav

they found themselves in darkness. There was a clanking sound as

ts coldness, even through the diving suits. They were much afr

however, and, in a few minutes, they saw something move i

or of which had been tightly closed, after which water from outside had been gradually admitted until the pressure was equal, and then the boys and t

aw that the professor had switched on his miniature search lamp. They remembered how h

for not a sound could be hear

n though the steel lined diving suits kept most of it off, was unpleasant. Gradually, however, the boys be

e. Now they were to solve the mystery of what had stopped th

light and the illumination of their helmet lamps they saw, wrapped about the forward shaft opening a gigantic squid or devil fish. Its soft, je

un into the monster, who feeling what it must have thought a

ctrical gun, and took aim at the hideous mass. The boys followe

shock of electricity, from storage batteries in the shoulder pieces of the weapo

d the boys and the professor were in dense darkness, for the squid had d

ely grasped hands after firing their guns, to prevent being

e Porpoise. Then, feeling along her steel sides, he led the boys through the ink

ved their diving suits. The others crowded about, anxious

ig screw revolved, the water came in the shaft and was thrust out of the rear end, making a current that s

t way for a while," said the professor as he started the pumps that e

feet in advance. The professor did not want to use the searchlight for he did not care

ho had entered the conning tower,

oast of South Carolina

ock and jar. The ship quivered from st

the professor, shutting down the