As his eyes became accustomed to the bizarre scene he was able to distinguish individual specimens from among the myriads of luminous creatures that crowded the waters. Here, like excursion boats all aglow, a score of jellyfish floated past. There, a throng of shrimp stood out in dark outline against the background light, suddenly darting frantically away as some great fish with bright spots along his sides gave chase. Casting off balls of illumination, the shrimp were lost to sight in a flare of light.
But there was little time for such thoughts, as this underseas mission concerned the lives of nine young people. A sudden storm would spell their doom....
Dave had asked for an hour, and he must save the professor from taking so great a risk, if possible. No less experienced person—not even Dave—could safely descend to such depth in a diving suit....
Suddenly he saw the light from the sub’s porthole, just before him.
“Steady!” he said into the mike. “Doris—tell them to stop lowering, and swing me to the right about twelve feet.”
Instantly they obeyed his orders and for a time, he studied the sub. Then he saw what he had sought—the threaded end of pipe for letting in the air. Once again he had his position changed. Now he was close to the bit of threaded pipe. But the dangling air hose from the sub on the surface, still was several feet away. More orders.... More moments.... and every second counted.... At last the steel ball rested on bottom. The sub was six feet distant, and now the hose dangled directly before his window.
What Dave hoped to do was to seize the screwcap at the end of the hose with the pincherlike affairs attached to the outside of the steel ball. Then, by twisting his pinchers round and round, he would try to attach the hose to the sunken submarine.
Could he do it? His heart sank as the force of a wave far above, drew the steel ball off the bottom for a moment.
“I—I’ve got to do it! I’ve got to,” he muttered.
Once again his hand was on the lever. It rose, slowly, as the hose before him swayed.