Amos Fearless was almost black in the face and there was an ugly mark around his throat, mingling with the blood from the scratch Dave had caused. Putting his ear to his parent's breast, the boy made out that his father still breathed faintly. In the diving bell was some liquor, to be used for restorative purposes, and some of this Dave poured down his father's throat. But still the man did not stir, and Dave began to rub his hands and move his arms, that his lungs might again get into working order. Ten minutes passed and at last Amos Fearless gave a slight gasp. 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. Then he waited--five seconds--ten seconds--a full minute. And still the diving bell did not move. "They have given up watching the life-line," he reasoned. "How careless! I'll give Captain Broadbeam a talking to when they do haul us up." "Something must be wrong," said the father, in his sign language. "Captain Broadbeam would not forget us in this fashion." Slowly the minutes went by and each instant father and son grew more anxious. They could not ascend of themselves, nor could they leave the diving bell and float to the surface. Had they left the bell without their suits the water would have crushed them, for the pressure was enormous at this distance under the surface. The air in the diving bell was anything but pure, and now of a sudden it stopped coming in altogether. "We are lost!" cried Dave. "We shall be smothered to death!" "I cannot believe Captain Broadbeam has forgotten us," signed Amos Fearless. "As I said before, something must be wrong!" The old diver was right; something was very wrong on board of the _Swallow_. While the two divers were at work under the surface of the ocean, a wild cry had arisen on board of the ship, a cry which thrilled everyone who heard it to the heart. It came from the cook's galley and was quickly taken up on all sides. "Fire! fire! The ship is on fire!" The report was true. Some fat on the cook's stove had boiled over and taken fire, and now the burning fat was flowing in all directions.