"And you'll see as the chube ain't in no kinks, Mr Pug;" he continued, with a dry chuckling laugh, "and so will I." "You may laugh, Rasp," said Dutch, good-humouredly, "but you will not alter my opinion about it at all." "I know that, Mr Pug; I know that," he chuckled. "But you haven't got the life-line attached." "Yah! I don't want no life-lines," said the old fellow. "I've been down too many times." "You don't go down without, Rasp," said Mr Parkley, authoritatively. "And why not?" said the stubborn old fellow. "Because if you like to throw your life away, I don't choose to spare you at such a time." The old fellow assumed his helmet, growling and grumbling the whole time, and then, all being ready, the look-out was arranged once more for sharks, Mr Parkley held a cartridge or two ready, and Dutch took the management of the descent, watchfully minding that the tube and lines were clear. Then Rasp went down, to be seen directly after thrusting the rod here and there, and soon after commencing digging in the slow, laborious way inevitable in so dense a medium. The water was disturbed by the continuous fountain of exhausted air bubbles that rose rapidly to the surface, but all the same Rasp's motions could be pretty well followed, and they were scanned with great eagerness by all on deck, when suddenly the cry of sharks was raised, and the black fins of a couple of monsters were seen slowly coming up astern. In an instant Mr Parkley ran aft, and after seeing that his wire coil would be perfectly free, he threw the cartridge with such precision that it fell between the two fish, and on the wire being applied to the battery, there was a dull report, a heavy column of water flew up in which could be seen the forms of the sharks, and as the commotion subsided they were seen swimming feebly in a stunned, helpless manner round and round, and gradually getting more distant from the schooner. The men gave a cheer at the result, but as they did so Mr Wilson raised the cry again of "shark," and pointed downwards where a monster was seen slowly approaching Rasp, who was working away in profound ignorance of his danger, though he had been seen to straighten himself up for a moment or two when the cartridges were exploded. "Stand ready with the life-line," shouted Dutch. "Keep on pumping, my lads." As he spoke he signalled with the cord, and Rasp faced round, to be seen to squat down directly as he drew his knife. The scene below was very vivid, for the sun shone out so brightly that even the rivets in the copper helmet were visible, and but for a word or two of warning those whose duty it was to attend to life-line and pump would have stopped short to try and catch a glance at what was going on below. Dutch's stern voice brought them back to their duty, and the pump clanked, and those who held the life-line stood ready for a run forward to drag Rasp up if there was any need.