“Yes, your experience in your motorship comes in well,” observed Ted. The boys were beginning to be delighted with their experience on the submarine, now that there was a chance to escape and get home.
In due time they reached the place where it was decided to descend to the bottom of the sea, and in a little while the Sonderbaar was resting on the white sand. About her swam big and little fishes—all curious about this new monster of the deep.
Jerry and the professor decided to go out together in diving suits, and later, if he wished, Ned could take a turn. No one else seemed to want to.
The diving suits were soon brought out and Jerry and the scientist, donning them, shut themselves up in the water chamber. Everything went along without a hitch, and a few minutes later the heavy steel door swung open, and the two could step out on the ocean bed.
It was a novel sensation, and Jerry enjoyed it to the utmost, although there was a spice of danger to the adventure. He could not help wondering what would happen should an accident take place, or if the Sonderbaar should suddenly go off and leave them.
But he put these thoughts out of his mind, and followed the professor. They had their lanterns, and they could look through the glass windows, and see their friends in the cabin, waving their hands. Of course Jerry and the professor could not talk to each other, but there was no need.
Professor Snodgrass lost no time in looking for his crab specimens. At first he was not successful, though he did find some rare shellfish which gave him manifest delight. Then he came close to where Jerry was standing on the bed of the ocean, looking at a great fish, of an unknown species, that was eyeing the intruders as if in doubt what to do.
The professor stooped down and picked up something. He held it so Jerry could see, and the lad beheld a large crab, comfortably established in the vacant shell of some other creature. The professor had found what he wanted—a hermit crab.
“I guess he wishes he could talk now,” thought Jerry. “He sure will make up for it, though, when we get on board again. Well, I’m glad he’s found it. I don’t fancy staying down here too long, though it certainly is a wonderful thing to have done.”
The professor walked on a little farther, finding more specimens which he placed in a net he had brought along for the purpose. Jerry kept pace with him.