Acting under the impetus thus given, the diving bell made a stride forward, directly in the path of the Devil's Needle.
Crash!
Full against the steel frame of the bell came the sword-like spear of the fish.
Another crack followed, as the spear was broken off close to the creature's snout.
The great shock stunned the Devil's Needle and it turned over on its side and sank slowly to the ocean's bottom.
Realizing that something was wrong, Amos Fearless turned, just in time to witness the breaking off of the bony spear.
He started for the diving bell, then of a sudden changed his plan of action.
One of the diving bell's steel claws lay close to the Devil's Needle, and this he raised up and placed over the monster.
Dave, inside of the bell, understood, made the lever work, and immediately the claw fastened itself around the body of the half-stunned fish.
Then Amos Fearless picked up the broken-off sword spear and re-entered the bell.