Down they went, a hundred feet—two hundred—five hundred—a thousand. By the small light at his side, Johnny watched the native’s face. The expression never changed.
“He seems to be expecting something interesting and exciting,” the boy told himself. “Wonder what it could be. If he’s afraid, he sure doesn’t show it.”
As they sank lower and lower, the darkness increased. At last, as Johnny threw off the electric light and all about them was inky black, from the native’s lips came a hiss of surprise. That was all.
When Johnny threw on a powerful light, the look of expectation on Samatan’s face returned.
“Strange sort of person,” the boy thought. “What can he be expecting to see?”
They were now standing still. The professor on deck, had decided their descent had gone far enough.
As Johnny sat staring into the inky blackness before them, he gave a sudden start, then snatched his camera. There, plainly in view, was one of the strangest monsters he ever had seen.
Scarcely had he adjusted his camera for a picture, than a second creature appeared.
“Must be a school of them.” His hand trembled a little.
Just as the camera clicked there began the most amazing and terrifying experience of Johnny’s eventful life. As though pushed by a giant hand, as a child pushes a playmate in a rope swing, the steel ball moved rapidly outward and upward—although Johnny had given no signal!