"If Hankers came near us I would be apt to make it hot for him."
"And I'll do the same."
It was a clear day overhead when Dave and his father entered the diving bell and were hoisted over the side of the Swallow.
Slowly the immense cable unwound itself, letting the bell down deeper and deeper.
Soon the light of day was shut out and all became as black as night and as cold as a tomb.
Amos Fearless turned on the electric current and the diving bell sent out several rays of light.
The light attracted numerous fish, who swam up swiftly, only to stop just as fast and gaze stupidly through the glass of the bell's sides.
There was one fish in particular, commonly called the electric-light fish, the scientific name being linophyrne lucifer, which had what looked like an electric light on the end of its sharp snout and a rope-like appendage under its lower jaw. It had a square mouth and sharp, curved teeth, and a look which was enough to give an ordinary mortal a chill.
"We must secure a specimen of that fish," said Amos Fearless, in the sign language. "The captain and the doctor spoke about it particularly."
"And also a specimen of that long, thin thing," answered Dave, pointing to what is familiarly called in Borneo the ray of fire. The ray of fire is a white fish four or five feet long and less than three inches thick. It has silver scales which flash out like fire whenever it swims quickly.