"What in tarnation's that?" Chow asked.
"Simplified controls," Tom explained. "One's for breathing adjustment, one's for the density unit, one is my ion-drive 'throttle,' and this last is for the sonar pulse—which will duplicate the porpoise sound."
The suit worked perfectly in a tank test. Chow was amazed as he listened to Tom gliding about, via an underwater microphone.
"If that don't beat all!" he declared. "Can't tell the difference 'twixt you an' Smiley!"
As Tom emerged from the tank, the portly cook rolled up his own pantlegs and waddled up the metal ladder to the tank brim. He summoned the porpoise with a whistle and straddled its back.
"What in the name of aquanautics do you think you're doing?" Tom gasped.
"I'll show you a real broncobustin' act in the water," Chow bragged.
Smiley glided off gently at first, Chow fanning the air with his hat and yipping like a rodeo star. He did, in fact, cling to his slippery perch with considerable skill.
But suddenly Smiley began bobbing and humping like an eel. Chow's face froze in alarm. A moment later the porpoise dived and the cook let out a yell of terror, "He-e-elp!"
Roaring with laughter, Tom dived in and rescued him. "Guess he ain't quite broke yet, pardner!"