Chapter I: Preface

This story of the "Rival Ocean Divers" has been written especially for such boys as like tales of the deep blue sea.

A search for a hidden treasure is certain to be a fascinating one, and when the treasure is located at the bottom of the great ocean the quest is bound to become more or less perilous.

In opening this tale I had a twofold object in view. The first was to write a story which would interest boys, and the second was to unfold to their view a few of the marvels of deep-sea life, telling of the strange fish and other creatures to be found at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.

In 1898 the United States government sent out an expedition to certain portions of the Pacific to test a new diving bell and a new machine for deep-sea soundings, and also to bring back such specimens of deep-sea animal and vegetable life as the expedition might be fortunate enough to obtain. The official report of this expedition is extremely interesting and useful, and from it the author has obtained much data of value, for use in the present work.

This story was originally used as a serial in a popular weekly. It seemed to please its readers, and the author hopes that in its present enlarged and rewritten form it will meet with equal favor.

Roy Rockwood.

April 1, 1905.

CONTENTS

I. PUNISHING A SNEAK

II. THE HANKERS' MOVE

III. A STRANGE HOTEL ADVENTURE

IV. AN OCEAN MONSTER

V. FROM ONE DANGER INTO ANOTHER

VI. STRUCK BY LIGHTNING

VII. "I CANNOT TALK!"

VIII. A DISASTROUS HUNT

IX. A PRISONER UNDERGROUND

X. DAVE OVERHEARS A PLOT

XI. FACING A JAGUAR

XII. WELL-TIMED SHOTS

XIII. SURROUNDED BY SAVAGES

XIV. ANOTHER CAPTURE

XV. A DOOR OF WATER

XVI. THE ESCAPE TO THE COAST

XVII. A DASH FOR A ROWBOAT

XVIII. ON THE BOSOM OF THE OCEAN

XIX. FIGHTING A GORILLA

XX. AN ATTACK IN THE DARK

XXI. DAVE AND THE WATER SNAKE

XXII. WHAT THE STORM BROUGHT

XXIII. ON THE SHIP ONCE MORE

XXIV. ATTACKED BY A FIRE FISH

XXV. LEFT TO PERISH

XXVI. THE BATTLE OF THE FISHES

XXVII. THE RIVAL DIVERS

XXVIII. THE DEMONS OF THE DEEP

XXIX. THE ESCAPE FROM THE DEMONS

XXX. IN A DIVING BELL

XXXI. THE TREASURE AT LAST--CONCLUSION

RIVAL OCEAN DIVERS