74 THE ARCTURUS ADVENTURE 



Our regular mode of diving is as follows: We 

 start out from the Arcturus in a flat-bottomed boat 

 which has a square, eighteen- inch glass set in the 

 bottom amidships. My regular diving crew is 

 John Tee-Van and Ruth Rose and we three dived 

 in many and in strange places. To the stern is 

 fastened a long, metal Jacob's-ladder, rolled up 

 when not in use. We are towed or we row to the 

 shore, preferably to the base of cliffs or steep rocks, 

 as that affords considerable depth close inshore and 

 rocky places are beloved by hosts of fish. We 

 anchor as close to the cliffs as is safe, and roll out 

 the ladder, so that it sways in midwater or rests 

 upon the bottom. The pump is in the bow, the 

 handle fixed, and the leather washer carefully 

 screwed in. The hose is cleared of kinks, and is 

 looped, partly overboard. A hand line is tied to 

 the top of the helmet, and the inside of the glass 

 windows is coated with a film of glycerine to pre- 

 vent the breath of the diver from condensing and 

 so clouding it. The four lead weights are slip- 

 ped over the flange on the helmet base and all is 

 ready for the diver. A hand water-glass is near 

 for constant lookout for danger, and one or two 

 long-handled harpoons. 



In bathing suit I climb down the ladder over the 

 stern, and dip to my neck, being careful not to wet 

 my head. Then John lifts the helmet; I give a last, 

 quick look around, draw a deep breath, duck into 

 it, and as it settles firmly on my shoulders, I climb 

 slowly down. The sensation just above water is 

 of unbearable weight, but the instant I immerse 



