The creature flopped violently, but as the bell ascended to the upper waters of the ocean, it seemed to become stunned, and before the surface was gained it lay utterly helpless.
Soon the diving bell was hoisted aboard of the Swallow.
"The gold at last!" cried Captain Broadbeam. "Hurrah! I was afraid something awful had happened."
"And the wonderful monster," put in Doctor Barrell. "What an odd creature! It will make a grand exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution."
"You'll have to pickle him in alcohol, doctor," said Dave, with a laugh.
Both Amos Fearless and Dave were very weak from having remained at the ocean's bottom so long, and it was several days before either felt entirely like himself again.
Strange to say, however, the trip after the treasure had helped Mr. Fearless' organs of speech, and soon he could talk almost as well as ever.
"This is the best yet," declared Dave. "It's better than finding the treasure."
"I am thankful from the bottom of my heart," answered the old diver, and his face showed that he spoke the truth.
"I don't think that I want to go to the bottom of the Pacific again, father."