e was attending to
business.

CHAPTER XXI

AT LAST

Mate Storms, so far as could be seen, looked like an immense crab at
work on the bottom of the pearl bank and along the rough rocks. He was
so far below the surface that he was insensible to the long, heavy
swells, which at intervals broke upon the beach with a thunderous
boom, and so long as the breathing apparatus kept right he could
pursue his labor without difficulty.

As he anticipated, he had not been long at work when several sharks
made their appearance and reconnoitered the mysterious intruder upon
their domains. They were evidently puzzled over the appearance of the
strange visitor, and when Storms gave one of them an ugly prod with
the point of his knife, he darted out of sight, instantly followed by
the others, who seemed to suspect they were in danger from the
monster, whose slightest touch was so emphatic.

It did not take long for the diver to fill his basket, and when he
gave the signal, Captain Bergen pulled with might and main, and, a
few minutes after, the man in his armor scrambled upon shore, tumbled
over by a huge swell, which broke at that moment. The basket was full,
and catching it up, Captain Bergen left his friend to himself and
began hurriedly prying open the mollusks with his sheath-knife. His
heart throbbed, for they were the largest oysters he had ever seen,
and he was full of high hope.

The first bivalve opened disclosed a pearl almost as large as a
robin's egg. It possessed the faint yellowish tinge which is
recognized in the East as belonging to the most valuable species.

With trembling, eager hands, Captain Bergen opened the second, and
discovered another, nearly as large as the first. Half beside himself,
he snatched up the largest oyster in the heap, and forced it apart
with such precipitancy that he cut his hand. There lay a pearl before
him fully a third larger than the first, with the purest tint, oval in
form, and worth thousands of dollars.

Captain Bergen could contain himself no longer, but springing to his
feet he threw his hat in the air, and shouted, and danced about like a
madman.

Mr. Storms did not remove his armor, for he intended to go down again.
His laugh, muffled and sounding strangely from within the visor, was
heard as he joined in the demonstrations of his companion.

When, encumbered as he was with his awkward armor, he began executing
a double shuffle on the beach, the sight was so grot