Taking this for a good sign, Dave continued his labors and was presently rewarded by seeing his father open his eyes and shudder.
"Father! are you all right now?" asked the boy.
The only reply was a groan. But then Amos Fearless gave a long breath, and Dave knew that he was saved.
"You had a narrow escape, father," he said. "The light fish tried to strangle you. I had to cut him to pieces with the knife. I cut you a little on the neck, but that couldn't be helped."
Amos Fearless made a feeble sign. "I know—brave boy," was what he said, and caught his son by the hand.
In the meantime the ray of fire in the net was still threshing around on the outside of the bell.
But to this fish they now paid no attention.
"Let us go up," signed Mr. Fearless, after a pause of a few minutes.
"I have signaled," was the son's answer. "I will signal again."
He pulled the cord several times in lively fashion.