don't know," answered the ex-colonel; "follow Elphinstone's
example, I think, and have a suite made for this young woman," pinching
Ida's cheek, "against the time when she is old enough to get married;
and--perhaps sell the rest some time or other."

The professor glanced inquiringly at Mildmay.

"I think I, too, will have a suite made," observed the sailor; "it seems
rather a good idea. Pretty sure to come in handy, sooner or later."

And his eyes turned, as though unconsciously, in the direction of
Feodorovna Sziszkinski, to the confusion of that young lady, and the
covert amusement of Lady Olivia.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

MILDMAY'S ADVENTURE WITH AN OCTOPUS.

The two succeeding days were very fully occupied upon the somewhat
difficult and delicate task of effecting an equal division of the
fabulously rich haul of rubies that they had so easily acquired in so
short a time; and on the third day--being Sunday--everybody took a rest,
as was usual with them whenever possible.

But on the following Monday morning, after breakfast, the _Flying Fish_
rose into the air, and, moving out to sea, proceeded to the reef upon
which the unknown ship had been wrecked. It was determined to examine
first what was believed to be the after part of the wreck; for if any
documents, from the contents of which the ship could be identified,
still existed in decipherable condition, it would be in one of the
cabins that they would almost certainly be found. The position of this
portion of the wreck, therefore, having been found, the _Flying Fish_
was sunk as close as possible to it, settling down upon a smooth, firm,
sandy bottom, in fourteen fathoms of water, on the seaward side of the
reef. There were but four male diving-suits in the ship, but Lethbridge
and the Russian colonel were so very nearly alike in size and build that
there was no doubt that the suit of the former would fit the latter; and
Lethbridge therefore offered Sziszkinski the opportunity to experience
the sensation of walking about on the ocean's bed, and beholding
anything of a novel character that there might be to see--an offer which
the Russian had gladly accepted. A diving-suit had been provided for
Lady Olivia, but it was deemed unadvisable that she should make her
first essay at submarine exploration until the others had first been
out, and had thus ascertained what difficulties and possible dangers
were likely to be experienced. The four men who were go