The fish were indeed curious--some long and thin, others short and fat, but all with something extremely unusual in their make-up. One fish had horns on its head, another had wings like those of a bird, and many had feathers instead of scales on their bodies. And then came a fish shaped very much like a long, spiral spring, with a square-looking head and horns all of two feet long just over his eyes, which set out like two yellow and white eggs. "I must try and get you, my beauty," thought the young diver, and prepared to put out the net for that purpose. He had to work with care, being alone, and it took considerable time before he opened the diving bell and let in the water. The first thing that struck him when he felt the water on him was that it was no longer cold, but warm--even warmer than at the surface. This was not unpleasant, but he could not help but wonder how much hotter it might be at the very bottom. "This part of the ocean may be over a submarine volcano," he reasoned. "If that is so it will be boiling at the bottom, and to get to the wreck will be impossible." At last his net was set and he baited it with care. Then he waited. Several small fish came up and nibbled at his bait, but not the spiral fish he was after. "He's a shy one," thought Dave. "He's not going to be caught if he knows it." But at last the young diver was rewarded by seeing two of the spiral fish approaching. One apparently urged the other on, until both came into the net and began to chew at the bait, which was purposely very tough. With all speed Dave set to work to shut the net. This was no easy task for a single person, and in order to accomplish it the young diver had to step outside of the diving bell. He was just finishing up the task when a strange rushing behind him caused him to turn around. At first he could see but little, for the water behind him was churned up into a milk-white foam. Then he saw a great mass of little fishes pressing toward him. CHAPTER XXVII THE RIVAL DIVERS "Gosh, but this is something new!" So thought Dave Fearless as he tried to pass the little fish in order to get into the diving bell. But the little chaps were both frisky and powerful and got in his way continually. They smelt of his legs, his body and his head, and then each gave him a resounding slap with the tail. It was like a hundred tack hammers playing a tattoo over his entire body. Never had the young diver been in such a peculiar position before. At last he hit out straight ahead of him. It was like striking into a mass of jelly. The little fish flew in all directions, only to return the moment the young diver's arm was hauled back. Slowly but surely, however, he got closer to the diving bell. At last he gained the door and hauled himself inside by main strength. The bell was full of the tiny fish, and he had literally to squeeze them out in order to squeeze himself in.