"Now, my lads, all together," and the boat was once more run out and rowed to the opening the mate had seen.
It proved enough for them to pass through with their oars laid in, and as soon as they were through the change from the brilliant blue water with the lovely coral and sea growth beneath to this jetty black bay was quite awe-inspiring.
"The water's clear," said Mark.

"What makes it so black ?" "I should say," said the captain, gazing down over the side, "that it is of almost unfathomable depth." "And was once a pit of fire," said the mate.

"But let's try." He took one of the fishing-lines, fitted a leaden weight to it, and lowered it over the side, when it went down and down till the end of the line was reached.

Then another was tied on, and this went down, making together nearly 200 yards.

There was yet another line, and this was fastened on, another fifty yards going down.
"There, you see," said the captain.
"Bottom!" cried the mate, as the weight ceased and the line slackened.
"Two hundred and fifty yards," said the captain: "a hundred and twenty-five fathoms." "No," cried the mate excitedly, "it isn't bottom, it's a fish." "Nonsense!" "It is; I can feel him," cried the mate; and he hauled rapidly in, with a heavy fish playing about till, just as it reached the surface and displayed a hideous pair of jaws, it let go, and with a flounder disappeared.
"Glad he was not hooked," said the mate, as Mark shrank away.