CHAPTER V A Submarine Pickpocket
"GOOD morning, Mr. Thacker; I hope you feel like taking a walk on the bottom of the sea this morning."
The smiling face of Captain Austin greeted Jay as the latter climbed up through the forward hatch of the Nemo for a breath of the clear fresh morning air. The Nemo had arrived during the night at her destination and rode gracefully at anchor on an easy swell.
"Never felt better in my life," answered the Brighton boy. The two lads had enjoyed a fine night's rest even in the cramped quarters of a submarine. Pretty soon Dick came climbing on deck, throwing out his chest for an inhalation of the clear balmy ozone.
The Nemo was riding slightly offshore. Because of her light draft she had been enabled to go very close. The pounding of the surf could be plainly heard.
"You see those ships' ribs sticking out of the water directly alongside?" asked the captain, pointing off the starboard quarter of the Nemo.
Both boys followed the line of direction. A glass was not necessary, for there, not more than thirty or forty yards away, loomed the three gaunt curved ribs of a ship, clearly outlined against the white of the breaking rollers beyond.
"That's what's left of the Dominion," explained the captain. "Not many people know she's here; we're quite a bit out of the regular shipping lines; but that's her all right."
Jay was thrilled at the spectacle. Right there under the water reposed valuable treasure, and he the one who was to dip down deep to clutch it from the depths!