BATHYBIA.
volley of strong expletives of a nautical character coming from the starboard bow. We were just in time to rescue our comrade from the clutch of a dangerous-looking spider-like monster, several feet in length, that had attempted to board us. Invasions of these monster water bears, as well as unavoidable affrays with giant species of rotifers were all too common during this extraordinary voyage.
However, in accordance with the adage which states that necessity is the mother of invention, we soon discovered that these beasts without exception retreated in the face of fire, with which they were entirely unaccustomed. A supply of torches was kept in readiness as weapons in the event of need. By the aid of these, also, a better knowledge of the conditions around us was obtained. The river was now to all intents and purposes a subterranean stream cutting through the accumulated remains of dead sunlight-seeking plants, which still lived only far above, within range of the daylight at the upper surface of this dense mass of dead and living vegetation. This lower zone through which we now passed, was not altogether composed of dead material, but supported abundance of saprophytic types, chiefly fungi and bacteria.
No human being could exist long under these
