In Neptune’s Room

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 84, 18 March 1922, Page 3

In Neptune’s Room

PRISONER OF ANEMONE. QUEER ISLAND ADVENTURE. (By Islander). Ten years ago, when 1 was wandering among the picturesque islands of Fiji, a youthful spirit that clamoured for adventure occasionally got more than it had bargained fur. For many weeks the coral reefs had fascinated me with their submarine garden i.

One sunny’ afternoon, as I set out for the Levuka reef. I.al, a native buy, who had been my guide on .several recent excursions, eyed me in dissatfaction when I declined his services for the afternoon. “Beeg feesh eat up Tauranga,” he wailed as 1 shoved my hired rowing boat off the beach. But no more “shillingi” were to he beguiled from my trouser pockets by such a fearful prophecy ; and so I set out alone tor the reef. A coral pool that 'night fittingly have been a room of Neptune’s palace presently claimed my attention. As I lay tint on the surface elthe reef and gazed down into the pool I was especially attracted by sum* huge scarlet and blue sea anemones looking like wondeful coloured mats on the sandy floor of Neptune’s room. The pool was wide, but not so deen as its crystal water made it appear. 1 guessed I could easily bottom it without the water covering my head. Presently I was lowering myself into the pool. My feet touched its bottom as my chin touched, its surface, which the outgoing tide had loft ievel with the reef top. T was about to relinquish niv hold of the sharp coral wal| and begin a tour of Neptune’s room, when something closed softly but firmly over my right foot. T went to withdraw it from the almost pleasant embrace of the unknown, but to my consternation found that T could not do so ; my foot was firmly imprisoned in some soft, spongy matter. When about to let go of the coral wall and investigate this strange turn of events prudence hade me retain my hold, for if 1 overbalanced I should probably be unable to regain my present standing position, and would quickly drown if held down by one leJl Clinging to coal 1 frantically struggle*.! to release my loot but it was held firmly, jet gently, by the unseen —unseen, for my struggles had stirred up the sand on the floor of Neptune’s room had had discoloured the water. The depth of the water reaching to my chin made movement and observation difficult. When I bent my head to look for that which held me fast my face was in the water. 1 could only surmise that one of the huge, anemones that had claimed my admiration held my foot with abnormal strength. Often 1 had thrust a hand into smaller ones when a sharp tug had been necessary for its release; but 1 had never imagined that I should one day be held a prisoner by one of these inno-cent-looking flower® of f he sea which are the glory of submarine gardens. Feverishly my eyes scanned the sur fave of the reef, which was on a level with my eyes. At this hoik of lowtide it was usuallv thronged bv tourist ■«, but to-day n»'t a soul could T see A ledge of coral shut out the town and beach from my s’ght, but even had i r not don° so. a bare arm had a .aiot chance of attracting the attention of anyone half a mile away.

Again T struggled to release my foot hut it was useless. Tn two hours time the rising tide would he flapping the surface of the reef, and would slowly cover me up.

Exactly how long T remained tut unwilling guest < cf Neptune i do not know, hut it seemed that muny years went by ere the rising tide lapped the reef surface. But 1 know that the most glorious face 1 have ever seen was teat or Lal. my once despised guide, who, watching from the beacn, had bye-and-bye lust sight ci me and had come to look for “lauranga.’’

A quick dive on his part ;*nd half a dozen slashes of a villainous-.ooK»ng knife set me at freedom.

When we reached Levuka, and 1 walked somewhat shakily to my room at the hotel, my trousers pocket nad lost the pingle ot “shillingi” which Lal was spinning in the sunlight on the beach.