The Mighty Deep 



for life, once looked upon as vegetables, now 

 known to be animals. There are molluscs of 

 various kinds. There are long slimy wriggling 

 worms. There are the inevitable crabs, large 

 and small. There are countless fishes swimming 

 about, not in the least embarrassed by the as- 

 tounding fact that they have something like three 

 and a half miles of water between them and fresh 

 air and sunlight. 



Unexpectedly we come upon a great ship, 

 lying where it has lately sunk. 



The busy sea, always busy even when most 

 quiet, is hard at work demolishing the structure 

 of the vessel ; though still in the darkness we can 

 feel the tall mast, the solid sides, of the noble 

 craft, which once floated buoyantly far above, 

 in light of day. Now it reposes on the ocean- 

 bed, never again to be of service to man. Its 

 race is run ; its tale is told. Alas ! good ship ! 

 which, but for one fatal storm, might still be 

 actively engaged in its country's service. 



But we find no human remains. If they be 

 there, our searching has failed to alight on 

 them. 



Small wonder, in the great space and the 

 blackness. A medusa gleam of light has little 

 power to aid us in this search. 



182 



