Under the Waves | Page 2

rascality. If we be right in holding that romance is gushing enthusiasm, then are we entitled to hold that many methodical and practical men have been, are, and ever will be, romantic. Time sobers their enthusiasm a little, no doubt, but does by no means abate it, unless the object on which it is expended be unworthy.
Recovering from his thoughtful air, and repeating "Just so," the diver added, "Well, I suppose we'd better begin wi' them 'ere odds an' ends about us."
"Not so," returned the youth quickly; "I have often seen the apparatus, and am quite familiar with it. Let us rather go to the pier at once. I'm anxious to go down."
"Ah! Mister Edgar--hasty as usual," said Baldwin, shaking his head slowly. "It's two years since I last saw you, and I had hoped to find that time had quieted you a bit, but--. Well, well--now, look here: you think you've seen all my apparatus, an' know all about it?"
"Not exactly all," returned the youth, with a smile; "but you know I've often been in this store of yours, and heard you enlarge on most if not all of the things in it."
"Yes--most, but not all, that's where it lies, sir. You've often seen Siebe and Gorman's dresses, but did you ever see this helmet made by Heinke and Davis?"
"No, I don't think I ever did."
"Or that noo helmet wi' the speakin'-toobe made by Denayrouze and Company, an' this dress made by the same?"
"No, I've seen none of these things, and certainly this is the first time I have heard of a speaking-tube for divers."
"Well then, you see, Mister Edgar, you have something to larn here after all; among other things, that Denayrouze's is not the first speakin'-toobe," said Baldwin, who thereupon proceeded with the most impressive manner and earnest voice to explain minutely to his no less earnest pupil the various clever contrivances by which the several makers sought to render their apparatus perfect.
With all this, however, we will not trouble the reader, but proceed at once to the port, where diving operations were being carried on in connection with repairs to the breakwater.
On their way thither the diver and his young companion continued their conversation.
"Which of the various dresses do you think the best?" asked Edgar.
"I don't know," answered Baldwin.
"Ah, then you are not bigotedly attached to that of your employer--like some of your fraternity with whom I have conversed?"
"I am attached to Siebe and Gorman's dress," returned Baldwin, "but I am no bigot. I believe in every thing and every creature having good and bad points. The dress I wear and the apparatus I work seem to me as near perfection as may be, but I've lived too long in this world to suppose nobody can improve on 'em. I've heard men who go down in the dresses of other makers praise 'em just as much as I do mine, an' maybe with as good reason. I believe 'em all to be serviceable. When I've had more experience of 'em I'll be able to say which I think the best.-- I've got a noo hand on to-day," continued Baldwin, "an' as he's goin' down this afternoon for the first time, so you've come at a good time. He's a smart young man, but I'm not very hopeful of him, for he's an Irishman."
"Come, old fellow," said Edgar, with a laugh, "mind what you say about Irishmen. I've got a dash of Irish blood in me through my mother, and won't hear her countrymen spoken of with disrespect. Why should not an Irishman make a good diver?"
"Because he's too excitable, as a rule," replied Baldwin. "You see, Mister Edgar, it takes a cool, quiet, collected sort of man to make a good diver, and Irishmen ain't so cool as I should wish. Englishmen are better, but the best of all are Scotchmen. Give me a good, heavy, raw-boned lump of a Scotchman, who'll believe nothin' till he's convinced, and accept nothin' till it's proved, who'll argue with a stone wall, if he's got nobody else to dispute with, in that slow sedate humdrum way that drives everybody wild but himself, who's got an amazin' conscience, but no nerves whatever to speak of--ah, that's the man to go under water, an' crawl about by the hour among mud and wreckage without gittin' excited or makin' a fuss about it if he should get his life-line or air-toobe entangled among iron bolts, smashed-up timbers, twisted wire-ropes, or such like."
"Scotchmen should feel complimented by your opinion of them," said Edgar.
"So they should, for I mean it," replied Baldwin, "but I hope the Irishman will turn up a trump this time.--May I take the liberty of askin' how you're gittin' on wi' the engineering, Mister Edgar?"
"Oh, famously. That is to say,