to a place of safety.

Paddling sideways, I caught a glimpse of the flying-fish that had been
my tormentor. All at once I stopped short.

Now they say that some Folks are very curious. I do not mean that they
are odd or amusing to look at. But they have curiosity, and want to peer
and pry into things. It is not at all nice to want to find out all about
other Folks' affairs. It belongs to a poor, mean nature to want to do
that. But to want to inquire into matters for the sake of getting true
knowledge is right and worthy even for a fish.

And suddenly I had determined to see just what that amazing creature
could be. If it caught and swallowed me alive, it might, but--it would
take a pretty big swallow to make away with Lord Dolphin. I confess to
going to work very much like a sneak. But it was quite easy, seeing all
the other fishes had made off and left me a clear field, to hide midst a
bed of tall sea-bushes.

So, very gently back I paddled, with motion slow and noiseless, to the
region where the monster had come down.

How shall I describe it? In the first place, I had never seen such a
shape before. The time when I was borne aloft on high waves, and looked
into a ship's cabin, I saw forms something like unto this one in some
respects, but, dear sakes, not with such hideous parts! But now, to name
at once and describe afterwards,--

It was a _diver_!

The diver belongs to the Folks family, but, bless us, his rig! Imagine,
if you can, a black object, with a great bunchy machine of a head, and
for the rest, a mass of fixtures, such as would puzzle a far more stupid
creature than a Dolphin to make out.

I have seen a diver many times since then, and am now able to tell a
little about the fantastic-looking being. Of course, there is very much
more to be known, but if you remember what I say, it will give you some
idea of a diver's outfit that may linger in your mind, to be added to as
you grow older.

First, then, close to his skin are warm woollen garments, sometimes two
or even three sets of them. If the weather is cold, he may have on two
or three pairs of warm stockings. How would you like being bundled up in
that way? Yet that is only the beginning.

Close to his head is a woollen cap coming down over his ears. Thick
shoulder-pads keep his outside suit from grazing or hurting, and it may
be that other pads are about his body. He next goes into an outside suit
of India rubber, covered both inside and outsi