Page:The Fun of It.pdf/97

Rh near the earth’s surface. The increased pressure on the body is noticed most on the eardrum, par­ticularly if any of the passages are stopped, as when one has a cold. If the change from the higher to the lower altitude is made gradually enough, normally no sensation is present. However, if the drop is very rapid and through a considerable dis­tance, the reaction may range from unpleasant to painful. Indeed, it would be possible to rupture eardrums in a very fast dive continued through many thousand feet. The same condition obtains in going below the surface of water. A diver must accustom himself gradually to the greater pres­sures as he goes down to prevent pain or permanent injury. He must also be careful about coming up too quickly, for in decreasing pressure adjustment is needed also.

Bill Stultz didn’t care whether he made us con­scious of our descent or not. He was doing what he thought best, and a little temporary discomfort was of no consequence. Finally the Friendship was levelled off and we cruised along where we could now and then see a bit of water through occa­sional holes beneath us.

Although I have told it before in print, I should repeat the story of our most exciting moment. Our radio equipment had been silent after eight o’clock the first evening. Consequently instead of getting word from ships to help us check our position we had to depend solely upon dead reckoning.

According to our calculations the time had come