A million thoughts rushed through his brain--thoughts of his younger days, of his happy life around the lighthouse--and of how the Hankers might yet triumph over his father and himself. In the meanwhile the monster came closer, and now it emitted from its mouth a horrible green slime, with which to cover its victim before swallowing him, after the manner of its cousin on earth, the boa constrictor. But at this moment, when the youth seemed surely lost, something happened as quickly as it was unexpected, and which changed the whole course of events. Through the black waters rushed another fish, long, thin, and exceedingly bony. From the snout of this fish stuck a sword-like spear, fully three feet long, with a point like that of a dart. This was the Devil's Needle, another monster of the deep, and dreaded by all other monsters, for it is the deadly enemy of everything that crosses its path. There was a strange, hissing sound, a thrust, and the sword-like spear was thrust into the side of the Eurypharynx Pelecanoides. It was like sticking into an inflated bladder. The water was at once dyed crimson and the mighty ocean monster swept back and then began to thrash around wildly, sending mud and sand, slime and blood, flying in all directions. As quickly as it had appeared, the Devil's Needle now disappeared. Too faint to stand, Dave sank back on the ocean bottom. But his father was close at hand, and with rare presence of mind he caught up his son and carried him to the diving bell. In another moment both were inside of the machine and had the door bolted. They were now, as they thought, safe from harm, and Amos Fearless lost no time in turning the electric light of the diving bell upon the Sea Devil of the Ocean's Bottom. It was still thrashing around in a circle, but gradually its struggles became fainter, and at last it lay quiet. "He's done for," said the parent, in the divers' sign language. "I will fasten him to the bottom of the bell and then signal them on the ship to haul up." "Be careful," cautioned Dave. "That other fish may serve you as he just served that horrible creature." "We will move the diving bell close to the dead creature," answered Amos Fearless. This was done without much difficulty, by means of a set of levers which connected with the artificial steel claws of the diving bell. Then Amos Fearless went forth once more, taking with him a short chain, which he began to fasten around the slimy and sticky body of the dead Sea Devil. The job was a nasty one, but this could not be helped, and therefore he made the best of it. He had just finished the work when Dave saw the Devil's Needle again approaching. So far the fish had not seen Mr. Fearless, but now it spotted him and made a dart forward as if to thrust the old diver through and through with that bony sword. Dave's heart leaped into his throat, for he imagined nothing could save his father from death.