"Never felt better in my life," answered the Brighton boy. The two lads had enjoyed a fine night's rest even in the cramped quarters of a submarine. Pretty soon Dick came climbing on deck, throwing out his chest for an inhalation of the clear balmy ozone. The _Nemo_ was riding slightly offshore. Because of her light draft she had been enabled to go very close. The pounding of the surf could be plainly heard. "You see those ships' ribs sticking out of the water directly alongside?" asked the captain, pointing off the starboard quarter of the _Nemo_. Both boys followed the line of direction. A glass was not necessary, for there, not more than thirty or forty yards away, loomed the three gaunt curved ribs of a ship, clearly outlined against the white of the breaking rollers beyond. "That's what's left of the _Dominion_," explained the captain. "Not many people know she's here; we're quite a bit out of the regular shipping lines; but that's her all right." Jay was thrilled at the spectacle. Right there under the water reposed valuable treasure, and he the one who was to dip down deep to clutch it from the depths! "Expect that ship is pretty well battered to pieces, but have every reason to believe the real booty is still intact," Captain Austin was saying, as several deckmen began dragging various diving paraphernalia on deck. The chief executive turned to Jay. "I want you to go down this morning, if you are feeling fit and fine, Mr. Thacker." Jay indicated he was quite ready and never felt better in his life. "This chap Weddigen is also going down," continued Austin. Jay held his tongue, having learned well the lesson of discipline in the navy. Although he distrusted the fellow and knew he nursed a personal grudge, Jay was determined to make the best of the situation. Dick was to remain on board the _Nemo_ and supervise Jay's air and signal lines. Knowing quite well by his long experience that it was foolhardy for a diver to eat but a very little before descending into the pressure of the depths, Jay drank only a glassful of orange juice and a cup of black unsweetened coffee. By nine o'clock final preparations for the descent were under way. Jay was going off the forward deck of the _Nemo_, and Weddigen was to take off from aft the conning tower. The huge unwieldy diving suit, the clodhopper shoes of iron, the ghoulish looking headgear with its grotesque looking eyes were ready to be donned. The _Nemo_ was anchored to the lee shore of the island; the water was comparatively quiet and there seemed little danger of the "life lines" becoming unmanageable. "Gee, wish I was going along," sighed Dick a bit wistfully. Jay grinned. "Never mind, old pal; you'll get your turn all right before this is over. I'll stay my limit, probably not find anything, and then they will send you down."