After a half-hour below, during which he thoroughly enjoyed his novel surroundings, he felt an oppression on his chest and signaled "to haul up." The strong arms of the crew helped him regain deck, the helmet was removed and his flushed and eager face exposed.

He remarked to Tom that "diving was glorious." After a rest of two hours, the sloop having been shifted to another anchorage, he again descended.

This time the bottom had a different aspect.

It was full of dark rocks over which grow great masses ofsea weeds.

A few feet from where he descended, sprang up a reef of branch coral which extended as far as he could see on either side.