The Battleship Boys at Sea Part 41

"You will have the opportunity very soon."

"I think the boat is coming over there now, sir," added Dan, addressing the ensign.

"Cast the lead line over and see if you can locate the mine, lads."

They could not. In a short time the boat with the diver and diving apparatus pulled up and began getting ready for work.

"Look," whispered Dan.

The diver was none other than Bill Kester, his face swathed in plaster, his eyes scowling menacingly as he recognized the Battles.h.i.+p Boys.

CHAPTER XXII-BURIED THREE FATHOMS DEEP

"Where does she lay, sir?" questioned the a.s.sistant who had come with the diver and his apparatus.

"As near as we could determine the mine should be about fifteen yards to the southwest of us. Bring your boat around to leeward and make a sounding. We did not dare move over for fear of losing our location entirely."

"May I make a suggestion, sir?" questioned Dan, touching his cap.

"Certainly; what is it?"

"I got a quick bearing when the mine went over."

"You did?"

"Yes, sir."

"What was it?"

"Taking the bearing from our present position, a line drawn from the lighthouse to the battles.h.i.+p, crossed by a line from our wherry to that bluff yonder, would mark the location of the mine at the crossing point, sir."

The ensign glanced at the young seaman quizzically.

"Very well done, my lad. You have the making of a first-cla.s.s navigator in you. Keep on and you will do well. Always use your eyes, and your head as well, as you have done this afternoon and there will be no doubt about it."

"Thank you, sir," answered the boy, his face glowing with pride.

By this time the men were laying out the diving suit for the diver, the hideous-looking helmet having been placed on the stern seat of the cutter that had brought them over.

"Sound for that mine before you put the diver over," commanded the ensign. "No use bottling the man up until you are ready to send him down."

"This helmet is not fit to use, sir," spoke up one of the diver's a.s.sistants.

"What is the matter with it?"

"It leaks. See?" He held up the helmet, which he had partially filled with water, for the inspection of the officer.

"It has lain out on deck too long. The sun has checked it," continued the man.

"It should be your business to see that the sun did not check it. I shall have to place you on the report," replied the officer.

"I was ordered to get the apparatus on deck this morning, sir."

"Davis, signal the s.h.i.+p to send out another diving suit. Tell them this one is out of order."

"Aye, aye, sir."

"Ask them to send it out in a hurry, for the wind is coming up. I fear we shall have some rough water. Hickey, sit up there. Don't you know it is against the regulations to lounge about in the small boats? I am surprised at you."

Sam's face flushed. He sat up, gripping his signal staff half angrily.

He made no complaint, but saluted. Sam was not in the best of humor at this moment. He took an instant and violent dislike for the young officer who had rebuked him.

Dan, in the meanwhile, was wig-wagging to the s.h.i.+p, sending the request for another diving suit.

A few moments later, as he peered through the spy gla.s.s, he saw a boat starting off in their direction.

"Motor boat under way. I think she is coming with the diving suit, sir,"

Davis called.

"Very good. Have you located that mine yet, men?"

"I think we have, sir."

"Then hold it. Do not let it get away from you. We shall remain on the anchorage here until you get your anchor down."

As soon as this had been done the wherry moved up closer, keeping just far enough away to avoid interfering with the diver when he got at his work on the bottom of the sea.

Immediately upon the arrival of the motor boat the men began hurriedly a.s.sisting Kester on with his diving suit, for it was getting late, and the wind was freshening considerably.

"All ready to put the diver overboard, sir."

"Very good. Make sure that all is well before doing so."

"All is in proper condition."

The diver, as he stood waiting for the order to descend, appeared in his diving suit like some strange and hideous monster from the deep. Sam gazed at him in wide-eyed wonder.

"Then put him over."

A splash followed, the diver disappearing beneath the water, while the diver's a.s.sistants rapidly paid out the rubber tubing and the ropes attached to the diver's costume.

"Bottom, sir," announced the man at the ropes.

"Watch his signals."