ADVENTURES OF THE CHUMS

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1934, Page 22 (Supplement)

ADVENTURES OF THE CHUMS

You may wonder why Ted and Gwen are sitting on the rock staring so hard into tMfe water. And where is Richard ? That is what Ted and Gwen are wondering. They are having a game at diving, and seeing how long they can stay under the water. At least Ted and Richard are. And Richard,, somehow seems able to stay beneath the water for a far longer time than anyone would think. “I suppose he is all right?” Ted says.

4We had better find out for ourselves what Richard is doing. Here he is under the water, and he appears to be entering into an argument with the fishes. “My word!” cries a large fish, “if it isn’t a new kind-of dog fish.” "Don’t you-be cheeky,” splutters Richard, for, of course, he cannot talk well underwater. He seems to be all/right though, doesnt he?

Apparently Richard has consented to come to. the surface, at last. His ability to stay under the water has certainly mystified - both Ted and Gwen. “Why you must have been under more than ten minutes,” Ted remarks. “I daresay,” Richard replies, “ghat’s nothing. I could stay under longer than that!” “But how could you breathe ?” Gwen inquires. “That’s my secret,” Richard answers. “Well, I don’t understand it,” Gwen says. It is a bit puzzling, isn’t it?

The upshot of the argument was that Richard decided to prove to Gwen and Ted that he could stay beneath the water as long as he liked. And Gwen, of course, told him that she would like to see him do it. So Richard prepared to disappear beneath the waves again. “You will see me when I feel inclined to come up,” he said. “Very well,” said Gwen. “We’ll be waiting for you.” >

It really was most mysterious, and Ted and Gwen would be the first to admit It. They had been waiting for Richard for over a quarter of an hour, and he was still under the water. “Well, I don’t know how he does it,” said Ted. “It’s marvellous,” said Gwen. “I do hope he’ll remember to come up for dinner. We were late yesterday.” “But how can he hold his breath all this time,” asked Ted. ' I wonder, don’t you?

Perhaps this picture will give you an idea of how Richard accomplished his marvellous feat of staying indefinitely beneath the water? He kept coming up for breath on the other side of the rock! Of course, Gwen and Ted were intent upon the sea on their side, and did not notice him. They were quite concerned about him. “I do wish he’d come up,” Ted said. “Hi ! Come up,” cried Gwen. “It’s dinner time.” ( Of course, they had a good laugh when Richard explained the trick. Gwen, however, insisted that she knew all the time that he was tricking them.