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 THEY WERE JUST BEYOND THE EDGE OF THE ICE FIELD. Page 2.32.
 
 UNDER THE OCEAN 
 TO THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 Or 
 
 The Strange Cruise of the Submarine 
 Wonder 
 
 BY 
 ROY ROCKWOOD 
 
 AUTHOR OF "THROUGH THE AIR TO THE NORTH POLE," "THE 
 
 RIVAL OCEAN DIVERS," "A SCHOOLBOY'S 
 
 PLUCK," ETC 
 
 ILLUSTRATED 
 
 NEW YORK 
 CUPPLES & LEON CO.
 
 GOOD BOOKS FOR BOYS 
 BY ROY ROCKWOOD 
 
 THE GREAT MARVEL SERIES 
 
 THROUGH THE AIR TO THE NORTH POLE 
 Or The Wonderful Cruise of the Electric Monarch 
 
 UNDER THE OCEAN TO THE SOUTH POLE 
 Or The Strange Cruise of the Submarine Wonder 
 
 Cloth. Illustrated 
 
 Copyright, 1907, by 
 CUPPLES & LEON Co. 
 
 UNDER THE OCEAN TO THE SOUTH POLR 
 
 Printed in the United States of America.
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER FACE 
 
 I. WILL THE SHIP WORK? I 
 
 IT. A LAND OF ICE . . . 10 
 
 III. RUNNING DOWN A WAR SHIP 19 
 
 IV. IN THE MIDST OF FIRE ....... 27 
 
 V. A GRAVE ACCUSATION 35 
 
 VI. ON A RUNAWAY TROLLEY 43 
 
 VII. OFF FOR THE SOUTH POLE 52 
 
 VIII. ASHORE IN THE DARK 60 
 
 IX. A PRICE ON THEIR HEADS 68 
 
 X. ATTACKED BY A MONSTER 75 
 
 XL CAUGHT IN A SEA OF GRASS 84 
 
 XII. FIRE ON BOARD 92 
 
 XIII. THE GHOST OF THE SUBMARINE 100 
 
 XIV. DIGGING OUT THE SHIP 108 
 
 XV. THE STRANGE SHIPWRECK ...... 117 
 
 XVI. THE GHOST AGAIN 126 
 
 XVII. ATTACKED BY SAVAGES 134 
 
 XVIII. ON LAND 143 
 
 XIX. REGAINING THE SHIP 152 
 
 XX. ON A VOLCANIC ISLAND 160 
 
 XXI. CAUGHT IN A WHIRLPOOL . . . . . 169 
 
 XXII. UNDER FIRE * . . 177 
 
 XXIII. CAUGHT IN AN ICE FLOE 185 
 
 XXIV. THE SHIP GRAVEYARD 193 
 
 XXV. CAUGHT BY SEA SUCKERS 201 
 
 XXVI. LAND UNDER ICE 211 
 
 XXVII. ATTACKED BY AN OCTOPUS 220 
 
 XXVIII. OUT OF THE ICE 228 
 
 XXIX. THE BOILING WATER 235 
 
 XXX. THE SOUTH POLE CONCLUSION .... 240
 
 UNDER THE OCEAN TO 
 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 " HAND me that wrench, Mark," called Profes- 
 sor Amos Henderson to a boy who stood near 
 some complicated machinery over which the old 
 man was working. The lad passed the tool over. 
 
 " Do you think the ship will work, Professor? " 
 he asked 
 
 " I hope so, Mark, I hope so," muttered the 
 scientist as he tightened some bolts on what was 
 perhaps the strangest combination of apparatus 
 that had ever been put together. " There is no 
 reason why she should not, and yet " 
 
 The old man paused. Perhaps he feared that, 
 after all, the submarine boat on which he had la- 
 bored continuously for more than a year would be 
 a failure. 
 
 " Is there anything more I can do now? " asked 
 Mark. 
 
 " Not right away," replied the professor, with- 
 i
 
 2 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 out looking up from the work he was doing. 
 " But I wish you and Jack would be around in 
 about an hour. I am going to start the engine 
 then, and I'll need you. If you see Washington 
 outside send him to me." 
 
 Mark left the big room where the submarine 
 boat had been in process of construction so long. 
 Outside he met a boy about his own age, who was 
 cleaning a rifle. 
 
 "How's it going, Mark?" asked this second 
 youth, who was rather fat, and, if one could judge 
 by his face, of a jolly disposition. 
 
 " The professor is going to try the engine in 
 about an hour," replied Mark. " We must be on 
 hand." 
 
 "I'll be there all right. But if there isn't any- 
 thing else to do, let's shoot at a target. I'll bet I 
 can beat you." 
 
 " Bet you can't. Wait 'till I get my gun.' 
 
 " Now don't yo' boys go to disportin' yo'seves 
 in any disproportionable anticipation ob transposin' 
 dem molecules of lead in a contigious direction to 
 yo' humble servant ! " exclaimed a colored man, 
 coming from behind the big shed at that moment, 
 and seeing Mark and Jack with their rifles. 
 
 " I s'pose you mean to say, Washington," re- 
 marked Jack, " that you don't care to be shot at. 
 Is that it?"
 
 WILL THE SHIP WORK? 3 
 
 " Neber said nuffin truer in all yo' born days 1 " 
 exclaimed Washington earnestly. " De infliction 
 ob distress to de exterior portion ob " 
 
 11 The professor wants you," interrupted Mark, 
 cutting off the colored man's flow of language. 
 
 " Yo' mind what I tole yo'," Washington mut- 
 tered as he hurried into the work room. 
 
 Soon the reports of rifles indicated that the 
 boys were trying to discover who was the best shot, 
 a contest that waged with friendly interest for 
 some time. 
 
 The big shed, where the submarine ship was 
 being built, was located at a lonely spot on the 
 coast of Main. The nearest town was Easton, 
 about ten miles away, and Professor Henderson 
 had fixed on this location as one best suited to give 
 him a chance to work secretly and unobserved on 
 his wonderful invention. 
 
 The professor was a man about sixty-five years 
 old, and, while of simple and kindly nature in 
 many ways, yet, on the subjects of airships and 
 submarines, he possessed a fund of knowledge. 
 He was somewhat queer, as many persons may be 
 who devote all their thoughts to one object, yet he 
 was a man of fine character. 
 
 Some time before this story opens he had in- 
 vented an electric airship in which he, with Mark 
 Sampson, Jack Darrow and the colored man,
 
 4 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 Washington White, had made a trip to the frozen 
 north. 
 
 Their adventures on that journey are told of in 
 the first volume of this series, entitled, " Through 
 the Air to the North Pole, or, The Wonderful 
 Cruise of the Electric Monarch." 
 
 The two boys, Mark then being fifteen and 
 Jack a year older, had met the professor under 
 peculiar circumstances. They were orphans, and, 
 after knocking about the world a bit, had chanced 
 to meet each other. They agreed to seek to- 
 gether such fortune as might chance to come to 
 them. 
 
 While in the town of Freeport, N. Y., they were 
 driven away by a constable, who said tramps were 
 not allowed in the village. The boys jumped on 
 a freight train, which broke in two and ran away 
 down the mountain, and the lads were knocked 
 senseless in the wreck that followed. 
 
 As it chanced Professor Henderson had erected 
 nearby a big shop, where he was building his air* 
 ship. He and Washington were on hand when the 
 wreck occurred and they took the senseless boys 
 to the airship shed. 
 
 The boys, after their recovery, accepted the in- 
 vitation of the professor to go on a search for the 
 north pole. As the airship was about to start 
 Andy Sudds, an old hunter, and two men, Tom
 
 WILL THE SHIP WORK? 5 
 
 Smith and Bill Jones, who had been called in to 
 assist at the flight, held on too long and were 
 carried aloft. 
 
 Somewhat against' their will the three latter 
 made the trip, for the professor did not want to 
 return to earth with them. 
 
 The party had many adventures on the voyage, 
 having to fight savage animals and more savage 
 Esquimaux. They reached the north pole, but 
 in the midst of such a violent storm that the ship 
 was overturned, and the discovery of the long- 
 sought goal availed little. After many hardships, 
 and a fierce fight to recover the possession of the 
 ship, which had been seized by natives, the ad- 
 venturers reached home. 
 
 Since then a little over a year had passed. The 
 professor, having found he could successfully navi- 
 gate the air, turned his attention to the water, and 
 began to plan a craft that would sail beneath the 
 ocean. 
 
 To this end he had moved his machine shop to 
 this lonely spot on the Maine coast. The two 
 boys, who had grown no less fond of the old man 
 than he of them, went with him, as did Washing- 
 ton White, the negro, who was a genius in his 
 way, though somewhat inclined to use big words, 
 of the meaning of which he knew little and cared 
 less.
 
 6 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 Andy Sudds, the old hunter, had also been in- 
 duced to accompany the professor. 
 
 " I hunted game up north and in the. air," said 
 Andy, " and if there's a chance to shoot something 
 under the water I'm the one to do it." 
 
 Needing more assistance than either the boys, 
 Andy or Washington could give, the professor 
 had engaged two young machinists, who, under a 
 strict promise never to divulge any of the secrets 
 of the submarine, had labored in its building. 
 
 Now the queer craft was almost finished. As 
 it rested on the ways in the shed, it looked exactly 
 like a big cigar, excepting that the top part was 
 level, forming a platform. 
 
 The ship, which had been named the Porpoise, 
 was eighty feet long, and twenty feet in diameter 
 at the largest part. From that it tapered gradu- 
 ally, until the ends were reached. These con- 
 sisted of flattened plates about three feet in di- 
 ameter, with a hole in the center one foot in size. 
 
 Weary months of labor had been spent on the 
 Porpoise, until now it was almost ready for a trial. 
 The professor had discovered a new method of 
 propulsion. Instead of propellers or paddle- 
 wheels, he intended to send his craft ahead or to 
 the rear, by means of a water cable. 
 
 Through the entire length of the ship ran a 
 round hole or shaft, one foot in diameter. Within
 
 WILL THE SHIP WORK? 7 
 
 this was an endless screw worked by powerful en- 
 gines. With a working model the professor had 
 demonstrated that when the endless screw was re- 
 volved it acted on the water just as another sort 
 of screw does in wood. The water coming in 
 through the shaft served as a rope, so to speak, and 
 the screw, acting on it, pulled the craft ahead or to 
 the rear, according to the direction in which the 
 screw was revolved. 
 
 The submarine was a wonderful craft. It con- 
 tained a powerful engine, electric motors and dy- 
 namos, and machinery of all kinds. The engine 
 was a turbine, and steam was generated from heat 
 furnished by the burning of a powerful gas, manu- 
 factured from sea water and chemicals. So there 
 was no need to carry a supply of coal on the 
 ship. 
 
 The interior of the vessel was divided into an 
 engine-room, a kitchen, combination dining-room 
 and parlor, bunk rooms, and a conning tower, or 
 place for the stearsman. 
 
 While the boys had been shooting at the target 
 the professor and Washington had been putting 
 the finishing touches to the engine, tightening nuts 
 here and screwed up bolts there. 
 
 " I guess that will do," remarked the old inven- 
 tor. " Call the boys, Washington." 
 
 The colored man went to the door and gave
 
 8 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 three blasts on a battered horn that hung from a 
 string. 
 
 " Coming ! " called Mark, as he and Jack 
 ceased their marksmanship contest and approached 
 the shed. 
 
 " Now boys, we'll see if she works so far," said 
 the professor. If she does, we'll give her a 
 trial under water." 
 
 At the inventor's directions the boys started the 
 gas to generating from the chemicals. Soon the 
 hissing of steam told them that there was power 
 in the boiler. 
 
 The professor entered the engine-room of the 
 submarine. He looked over the various wheels, 
 levers, handles, gages and attachments, satisfying 
 himself that all were in proper shape and position. 
 
 " Three hundred pounds pressure," he muttered, 
 glancing at the steam indicator. " That ought to 
 be enough. Are you all ready, boys ? " 
 
 "All ready! "cried Jack. 
 
 Of course the test was only one to see if the en- 
 gine worked, for the boat could not move until in 
 the water. 
 
 The professor opened a valve. The steam filled 
 the turbine with a hiss and throb. The Porpoise 
 trembled. Then, with a cough and splutter of the 
 exhaust pipes, the engine started. Slowly it went 
 at first, but, as the professor admitted more steam,
 
 WILL THE SHIP WORK? 9 
 
 it revolved the long screw until it fairly hummed 
 in the shaft. 
 
 " Hurrah ! It works I " cried Mark. 
 
 " It does ! " chimed in Jack. 
 
 " Gollyation ! She suttinly am goin' I " yelled 
 Washington. 
 
 " I think we may say it is a success," said the 
 professor calmly, yet there was a note of exulta- 
 tion in his voice. 
 
 " Now that you've got her started, when are you 
 goin' to put her in the water an' scoot along under 
 the waves ? " asked Andy Sudds. 
 
 " In about a week," replied the professor. 
 
 " And where are you goin to head for? " went 
 on the hunter. 
 
 ' We're going under the ocean to the south 
 pole ! " exclaimed the inventor, as he shut off the 
 engine.
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 A LAND OF ICE 
 
 " THE south pole ? " exclaimed Mark. 
 
 " Way down dat way ! " cried Washington. 
 
 " Can you do it? " asked Jack." 
 
 " That remains to be seen," replied the profes- 
 sor, answering them all at once. " I'm going to 
 try, at any rate." 
 
 " Hurrah! " yelled Mark. " It will be better 
 than going to the north pole, for we will be in no 
 danger of freezing to death." 
 
 " Don't be so sure of that," interrupted the pro- 
 fessor. " There is more ice at the south pole than 
 at the north, according to all accounts. It is a 
 place of great icebergs, immense floes and cold 
 fogs. But there is land beyond the ice, I believe, 
 and I am going to try to find it. 
 
 " It will be a longer voyage than to the north 
 pole," said Jack. 
 
 ' Jest de same," argued Washington, " de poles 
 am at each end ob de world." 
 
 ' Yes, but we're quite a way north of the equa- 
 tor now, and we'll have to cross that before we 
 
 10
 
 A LAND OF ICE n 
 
 will be half way to the south pole," explained 
 Jack. " But I guess the Porpoise can make good 
 
 time." 
 
 "If the engine behaves under water as well as 
 it did just now, we'll skim along," said the pro- 
 fessor. 
 
 " And so you figure there's land down there to 
 the south, do you?" asked old Andy. 
 
 " I do," replied the inventor. " I can't prove 
 it, but I'm sure there is. I have read all the ac- 
 counts of other explorers and from the signs they 
 mention I am positive we shall find land if we ever 
 get there. Land and an open sea." 
 
 " And other things as well," muttered Andy, 
 yet neither he nor any of them dreamed of the ter- 
 rible and strange adventures they were to have. 
 
 The next few days were busy ones. Many little 
 details remained to perfect in connection with the 
 ship, and a lot of supplies and provisions had to be 
 purchased, for the professor was determined to get 
 all in readiness for the trip under the water. He 
 believed firmly that his ship would work, though 
 some of the others were not so positive. 
 
 ' We'll put her into the water tomorrow," an- 
 nounced the inventor after supper one night. 
 " Everything is complete as far as I can make it, 
 and the only thing remaining is to see if she will 
 float, sink when I want her to, and, what is most
 
 12 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 important, rise to the surface again. For," he 
 added with a twinkle in his eye, " anybody can 
 make a ship that will sink, but it isn't every one 
 who can make one that will come to the surface 
 again." 
 
 " Golly ! I hope dis chile ain't goin' to git in 
 no subicecream ship what'll stay down under de 
 water so de fishes gits him I " exclaimed Washing- 
 ton, opening his eyes wide. 'VDat's worser dan 
 freezin ! " 
 
 " Can't you swim?" asked Mark with a wink 
 at Jack. 
 
 " Co'se I can swim, boy. I can swim like a 
 starfish, but I can't wif ten thousand tons of a sub- 
 icecream ship on my back.' 
 
 " A sub-ice-cream ship is a new one," commented 
 the professor with a smile. "It's a submarine, 
 Washington." 
 
 " I can't see no difference," persisted the col- 
 ored man. " Subicecream am good enough for 
 me." 
 
 That night Mark and Jack were thinking so 
 much of the proposed test of the ship the next day 
 that they each dreamed they were sailing beneath 
 the waves, and Jack woke Mark up by grabbing 
 him about the neck during a particularly vivid part 
 of the vision. 
 
 " What's the matter? " inquired Mark, sleepily.
 
 A LAND OF ICE 13 
 
 " I thought the ship turned over and spilled me 
 out and I was drowning," explained Jack. ; ' I 
 grabbed the first thing I got hold of and it hap- 
 pened to be you." 
 
 " Well, as long as you're safe you can go to 
 sleep again," said Mark. " I dreamed I was chas- 
 ing a whale with the Porpoise." 
 
 The boys were up early the next morning, and 
 found the professor and Washington before them. 
 The inventor was inspecting the track which had 
 been built from the shed down to the water's edge 
 to enable the Porpoise to slide into the ocean. 
 
 With him were the two machinists, Henry Wat- 
 son and James Penson. They had been busy 
 since daylight making the ways secure. 
 
 " She goes in after breakfast," announced the 
 professor, " and I'm going to let you christen her, 
 Washington." 
 
 " Me? I neber christened a ship," objected the 
 colored man. 
 
 " Nothing like learning," remarked Mr. Hen- 
 derson. 
 
 " Has you got the bottle ob wine ? " asked 
 Washington. 
 
 " I guess soda water will do," said the inventor. 
 " Now look sharp, boys. Get your breakfasts and 
 we'll see if the ship will come up to our expecta- 
 tions.^
 
 I 4 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 No one lingered over the meal. When it was 
 finished the professor gave Washington a few in- 
 structions about breaking the bottle over the nose 
 of the Porpoise as she slid down to the water, for 
 there was no bow to such a queerly shaped vessel 
 as the submarine. 
 
 At last all was in readiness. The two machin. 
 ists knocked away the last of the retaining blocks 
 and eased the ship slightly down the well-greased 
 timbers of the ways. 
 
 " There she goes ! " cried the professor. 
 "Break the bottle, Washington!" 
 
 " In de name ob de Stars an' Stripes, in de name 
 of liberty, de home of the free an' de land ob de 
 brave, I names yo' Mrs. Porpoise! " cried the col- 
 ored man, but he was so long getting the words 
 out, and so slow in swinging the bottle of soda, 
 that the ship was quite beyond his reach when he 
 had finished his oration. He was not to be out- 
 done, however, and, with a quick movement he 
 hurled the bottle at the moving ship. It struck 
 the blunt nose squarely, and shivered to pieces. 
 
 " Three cheers for de south pole ! " yelled 
 Washington, and the others joined in. 
 
 The next instant the Porpoise was riding the 
 waves of the little bay, dancing about as lightly as 
 a cork, though, from the nature of her construc- 
 tion, she was quite low in the water, only about
 
 A LAND OF ICE 15 
 
 three feet of freeboard showing where the platform 
 was located. 
 
 " Well, she floats, anyhow," remarked the pro- 
 fessor. " Row out and fasten cables fore and 
 aft," he went on, turning to the two machinists. 
 In a few minutes the Porpoise was fastened to a 
 small dock with strong ropes the two young men 
 had carried out to her in rowboats. 
 
 " We will go aboard in a little while," the pro- 
 fessor said. " I am anxious to see if she rides on 
 an even keel and how the sinking tanks work." 
 
 Aided by the boys, he and Washington carried 
 on board a number of tools and appliances. Then, 
 with the two machinists, they all descended into the 
 interior of the craft through the small manhole in 
 the middle of the deck or platform. 
 
 Inside the Porpoise, the greater part of which 
 was below the surface of the waves and conse- 
 quently in darkness, the professor switched on the 
 electric lights and then he proceeded to get up 
 steam. 
 
 The propelling power of the craft has already 
 been described. In order to make the ship sink 
 beneath the water all that was necessary was to 
 incline the rudder and open certain valves in the 
 four tanks, when the water, rushing in, would sink 
 her. There was a tank on either side, and one 
 each fore and aft. If it was desired to sink
 
 1 6 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 straight down all four tanks were filled at once. 
 If the professor wanted to descend slanting either 
 to the front or back, only one of the end tanks 
 was filled, according to the direction desired. The 
 deflecting rudder also aided greatly in this move- 
 ment. 
 
 To cause the ship to rise the tanks were emptied 
 of the water by means of powerful pumps. The 
 filling of the tanks, as well as the emptying of them, 
 the starting or stopping of the engine that moved 
 the boat, as well as the control of most of the im- 
 portant machinery on the craft could be accom- 
 plished from the conning or stearing tower, as well 
 as from the engine-room. 
 
 There were numerous gages to tell the depth to 
 which the ship had sunk, the steam pressure, den- 
 sity of the water, and other necessary details. 
 
 There were dynamos to make light, motors to 
 run the pumps, and a great storage battery, so that 
 in case of a breakdown to the turbine engine the 
 craft could be run entirely by electricity for a time. 
 
 The cooking was all done by this useful current, 
 and all that was necessary to make a cup of coffee 
 or fry a beeksteak was to turn a small switch of 
 the electric stove. 
 
 The professor was busy over the machine for 
 generating gas, that furnished the heat to create 
 steam. Soon a hissing told that it was working.
 
 A LAND OF ICE 17 
 
 In a few minutes the hum and throb of the engine 
 told that it was ready to start. 
 
 " We are only going down a little way," the pro- 
 fessor said, " and only going to travel a short dis- 
 tance under water for the first time. I think there 
 is no danger, but if any of you want to back out, 
 now is your chance." 
 
 No one seemed inclined to withdraw, though 
 Mark said afterward he thought Washington got 
 as pale as it is possible for a colored man to get. 
 
 " We will all put on life preservers," the inven- 
 tor went on, " and one of you will be stationed near 
 the emergency exit. In case anything goes wrong, 
 and I cannot make the ship rise, by pulling the 
 lever the top of the craft will be forced off, and 
 we can at least save our lives. I think we are all 
 ready now. Mark, you clamp down the manhole 
 cover, and Jack, after you close the conning tower 
 station yourself at the emergency lever after we 
 have donned the life preservers." 
 
 The cork jackets were adjusted and Mark 
 clamped the manhole cover on. The professor 
 took one last look at the various levers and handles, 
 and then turned the wheel that admitted water to 
 all four tanks. There was a hissing sound as the 
 sea water rushed in, and the Porpoise gave a sud- 
 den lurch. 
 
 Then they could all feel the submarine sinking.
 
 i8 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 Down and down she went. Would she ever 
 stop? Would the professor be able to raise her 
 again ? There were questions that troubled every- 
 one. 
 
 Down and down the craft sunk, until by the 
 gage it was indicated that she was twenty feet be- 
 low the surface. Then the professor shut off the 
 inrush of water and the Porpoise floated away be- 
 low the surface of the waves. 
 
 There was a clicking sound and all the lights 
 went out. The boys and Washington gave a gasp 
 of terror. What did the sudden blackness mean. 
 
 " Open the side windows," called the profes- 
 sor's voice, and the two machinists obeyed. Heavy 
 steel doors that covered plate glass windows in 
 either side of the craft were pulled back, and a cry 
 of astonishment broke from the boys. 
 
 They looked out and saw staring in at them, so 
 close it seemed that they could touch them, scores 
 of fishes that looked in through the glass bulls- 
 eyes. 
 
 For the first time they realized that they 
 in the depths of the ocean.
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 RUNNING DOWN A WARSHIP 
 
 " How do you like it? " asked the professor. 
 
 " Great! " exclaimed Jack. 
 
 "Fine!" cried Mark. 
 
 " It am simply coslostrousness ! " exploded 
 Washington. " 'Nebber in all my born days did I 
 eber expansionate on such a sight I " 
 
 " Wish I had a fishing pole and line," remarked 
 Andy Sudds. " There's some pretty nice speci- 
 ments out there." 
 
 " You'll see better ones than those before we 
 finish our trip to the pole," remarked the profes- 
 sor. " Now we will try moving forward. I am 
 going into the conning tower." 
 
 He turned on the lights once more, but the boys 
 begged him to shut them off, as they could see out 
 into the ocean when the interior of the ship was in 
 darkness. So the professor obliged them. 
 
 In the tower he switched on the powerful search- 
 light that illuminated the path in front of him. 
 Then he started the engine, slowly at first, and 
 gradually increasing the speed. The Porpoise 
 
 19
 
 20 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 forged ahead, riding as evenly as an ordinary ship 
 does on the surface. 
 
 The professor steared her about in a large cir- 
 cle, bringing her back to the starting point. She 
 worked as smoothly as if she had been used to 
 under-water service for years. 
 
 " Now," said the inventor, " we will see if we 
 can go up to the surface again," and there came a 
 little note of anxiety into his voice. He slowed 
 down the engine and started the powerful pumps 
 that were to empty the tanks. For a moment there 
 was a feeling of terror in the hearts of all. Would 
 the pumps work ? 
 
 Then, slowly but surely, those aboard the Por- 
 poise felt her beginning to rise. Up and up she 
 went as the tanks were emptied and the ship light- 
 ened. 
 
 Then, with a bounce like a rubber ball, the sub- 
 marine shot upward to the surface and lay undulat- 
 ing on the waves caused by her emergence from 
 the depths. 
 
 " Hurrah I " shouted Jack. " We're all right ! " 
 
 "We shore ami " exclaimed Washington. 
 
 " It's a success 1 " Professor Henderson almost 
 whispered. " The pumps worked. The Porpoise 
 has fulfilled my greatest expectations ! " 
 
 Then he steered the ship back to the dock, where 
 she was moored, and the adventurers disembarked.
 
 RUNNING DOWN A WARSHIP 21 
 
 " One or two little details to attend to, and we'll 
 be ready for the great trip," remarked the profes- 
 sor. " I want to give her a little harder trial be- 
 fore I trust her, though she seems to be first-rate." 
 
 They all went back to the combined machine 
 shop and cabin, where they had lived during the 
 building of the submarine. Dinner was prepared 
 and, after the meal the two machinists approached 
 the professor. 
 
 " I don't suppose you need us any more," re- 
 marked Henry Watson. " The ship is finished as 
 far as we can do anything, and we may as well 
 leave now. We have an offer to go to work in an 
 electrical shop." 
 
 " I haven't said much to you about my plans," 
 the professor replied, " but if you would like to re- 
 main in my employ, I can promise you an interest- 
 ing trip." 
 
 ' Thank you, but I prefer to work above 
 ground," said James Pensen. " You have been 
 very kind to us, and we would do anything we 
 could for, but we don't want to take any long 
 under-ocean trips if we can help it." 
 
 * Very well," answered the professor, though 
 he seemed disappointed. " I will pay you what I 
 owe you and you can go." 
 
 For some time after the departure of the two 
 young machinists the inventor seemed worried.
 
 22 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 14 Did you count on them staying with you ? " 
 asked Mark. 
 
 " I rather hoped they would," replied Mr. Hen- 
 derson. " We need two more hands if we are to 
 make the trip. They need not be machinists, but 
 we will have to have someone, and I don't like to 
 get strangers. They might talk too much about 
 the ship." 
 
 At that instant there came a rap on the door. 
 Washington answered it. 
 
 u Yas sir, Perfesser Henderson done lib here," 
 he replied, in answer to a question from some one. 
 " But he am bery busy jest at de present occasioness 
 an' he'll be most extremely discommodated if yo' 
 obtrude yo' presence on him at de conglomeration 
 ob de statutory limitations, which am to say right 
 now. Come again ! " 
 
 " It's the same old Washington ! " said someone 
 outside, laughing heartily. " Just you tell the pro- 
 fessor we want to see him most particular." 
 
 At the sound of the voice the professor started 
 and Mark and Jack wondered where they had 
 heard it before. 
 
 " Show the gentlemen in, Washington," called 
 the inventor. 
 
 " Dere's two ob 'em," objected the colored man. 
 
 " Show them both in, then." 
 
 Washington opened the door of the cabin, and in
 
 RUNNING DOWN A WARSHIP 23 
 
 came two men, who seemed much amused over 
 something. 
 
 'What can I do for you?" asked the profes- 
 sor, in rather a sharp voice. 
 
 " He don't know us either, Tom," remarked the 
 taller of the two. 
 
 " If it ain't Bill Jones and Tom Smith! " ex- 
 claimed Andy Sudds. " Wa'al I'll be horn swog- 
 gled. Where 1 d ye come from ? " 
 
 " Right from the farm," replied Bill. " And 
 weVe had a hard job locating you. I guess Wash- 
 ington didn't know us since we raised beards," and 
 Bill stroked his wealth of brown whiskers. 
 
 " And I guess we sort of fooled the professor," 
 went on Bill, "eh, Tom?" 
 
 "Right!" said Tom. "You see," he went 
 on, " the farming business is almost over, as its 
 coming on fall now, so Bill and I thought it would 
 be a good time to hunt up the professor. We 
 heard he was down in this neighborhood so we 
 come by easy stages. We didn't have any time 
 to stop and make our toilets, hence our beards." 
 
 ' You've come at the right time," remarked the 
 inventor, as he came forward to welcome the two 
 young men. " Do you remember the trip you 
 made with me to the north pole ? " 
 
 ; ' I guess we'll not forget it in a hurry," replied 
 Bill.
 
 24 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 " That's what made us hunt you up," put in 
 Tom. " We hoped you might have something 
 similar on foot." 
 
 " I have," answered the inventor. 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 "A trip under the ocean! " 
 
 For an instant the two young men hesitated. 
 It was a new proposition to them. Yet they re- 
 called that they had come safely back from the 
 journey through the air. 
 
 " Do you want to go along as part of the 
 crew? " asked the inventor, after some further con- 
 versation. 
 
 " You can count on me ! " cried Bill. 
 
 " And if Bill goes I'll go too ! " exclaimed Tom. 
 
 " Under the seas or over the seas, it'll all one to 
 us if Professor Henderson sails the ship! " went 
 on Bill. "We'll go!" 
 
 "Good!" ejaculated the professor. "You 
 certainly came at just the right time." 
 
 As Tom Smith and Bill Jones were hungry a 
 hasty meal was prepared for them, during the eat- 
 ing of which they told of their experiences since 
 landing from the airship. They had been on a 
 farm until fired with a desire to go roving once 
 more. 
 
 For the next few days the professor, the boys, 
 and the other four were busy making some im-
 
 RUNNING DOWN A WARSHIP 25 
 
 provements to the Porpoise. Tom and Bill were 
 much astonished at their first sight of the queer 
 craft, but they soon became accustomed to her, and 
 said they preferred her to the airship. 
 
 ' To-morrow we are going on a little longer 
 trip than our first trial," announced the inventor 
 one evening. " We will be gone all day if noth- 
 ing happens to make the stay more lengthy," he 
 added grimly. " So, Washington, put plenty to 
 eat aboard." 
 
 A little later, when supplies had been put on the 
 Porpoise, and the machinery well overhauled, the 
 professor explained that he intended making a trip, 
 entirely under water, from the dock in the cove to 
 a point off the Massachusetts coast and return. 
 
 Early the next morning all were aboard. To 
 ^ach one was assigned a particular station. Wash- 
 ington, with Mark as an assistant, was in the en- 
 gine-room. Jack was to watch the various gages 
 and registers to give warning of any danger. The 
 professor, of course, would be in the conning tower 
 and operate the craft. Andy was to be with him, 
 to watch out, with his sharp eyes, for any danger 
 that might loom up in the path of the searchlight. 
 Tom and Bill were to be ready to help where 
 needed. 
 
 With a hissing sound the water filled the tanks 
 and the Porpoise sunk beneath the waves. The
 
 26 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 engine that worked the endless screw was started, 
 and the threads, working on the water cable, shot 
 the boat ahead. 
 
 "We're off!" yelled Washington. 
 
 About sixty feet below the surface the craft 
 was sent along. Mile after mile was covered as 
 shown by the patent log. The lights were turned 
 off, and through the thick plate glass windows the 
 strange inhabitants of the sea were observed. 
 
 u I think I'll go a little nearer the surface," said 
 the professor to Andy. The inventor started the 
 pumps that emptied the tanks. The craft rose 
 slightly. 
 
 "Quick! Stop her!" shouted the old hunter, 
 grasping the captain's arm. 
 
 Something black, like a grim shadow, loomed up 
 in the dull glare of the searchlight. 
 
 " What is it? " cried the professor. 
 
 " We're goin' to hit somethin' hard ! " yelled 
 Andy. 
 
 " It's the hull of a ship ! " exclaimed the inven- 
 tor as he jammed the reversing lever hard over. 
 
 It was too late. The next instant the Porpoise, 
 with a shock that made her shiver from stem to 
 stern, collided with the steel side of a small war* 
 ship.
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 IN THE MIDST OF FIRE 
 
 41 PULL the secondary emergency lever! " cried 
 the professor through the speaking tube to Wash- 
 ington. " We must reach the surface at once ! " 
 
 "Are we damaged?" asked Andy, scrambling 
 to his feet, for the shock had knocked him down. 
 The professor had not fallen because he clung to 
 the steering wheel. 
 
 The ship gave a sudden lurch. 
 
 " We're sinking ! " cried Bill, rushing to the 
 conning tower from the engine-room. 
 
 " That's only the action of one of the emer- 
 gency levers," said the professor calmly. " It 
 forces compressed air into the tanks the more 
 quickly to empty them of water. I think we are 
 safe." 
 
 "What is it?" asked Mark, as, followed by 
 Jack, he came forward. 
 
 " We tried to do the torpedo act to one of 
 Uncle Sam's ships," explained Andy. 
 
 The electric lights had been switched on, and, 
 with the Porpoise flooded with the bright beams, 
 
 27
 
 28 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 those on board waited anxiously for what was tc 
 happen next. 
 
 Suddenly an upward motion was experienced. 
 The next instant the craft bounced out of the water 
 and fell back in a smother of foam, shaking and 
 shivering, alongside a small armored warship that 
 was anchored about two miles and a half from 
 shore. 
 
 " Open the manhole," commanded Mr. Hender- 
 son. 
 
 Mark sprang up the iron ladder that led to the 
 opening in the deck of the Porpoise and threw 
 back the cams that held the heavy iron in place. 
 Then he swung the cover back and stepped out on 
 the small platform, followed by the professor, 
 Andy and Jack. They looked up to find them- 
 selves observed by a curious throng that crowded 
 to the rail of the warship. 
 
 " What are you trying to do? Ram me with a 
 new-fangled torpedo? " asked an angry voice, and 
 a man in a gold laced uniform, who, from his im- 
 portance plainly showed himself to be the captain 
 of the ship, shook his fist at Mr. Henderson. 
 
 " I might ask what right your ship has to get in 
 my path," replied the inventor. " It was all an 
 accident." 
 
 " Mighty queer," muttered the naval comman- 
 der. " Looks very suspicious. How do I know
 
 A CURIOUS THRONG CROWDED TO THE RAIL OF THE WAR-SHIP. 
 
 Page 28.
 
 IN THE MIDST OF FIRE 29 
 
 but what you're a torpedo from some foreign na- 
 tion?" 
 
 " Because this is not a torpedo," replied Mr. 
 Henderson. " It is a new submarine boat of my 
 invention, and I was giving it a trial spin." 
 
 " I guess you'd better come aboard and do your 
 explaining," went on the captain. " I don't like 
 the looks of things. Lower a boat!" he 
 shouted, " and bring those chaps to my cabin. I 
 want to question them." 
 
 It did not suit Professor Henderson to have his 
 plans upset in this fashion. Nor did he care to give 
 a detailed description of his ship to officers of the 
 war department. He had many valuable inven- 
 tions that were not patented. So he determined to 
 outwit the pompous commander of the cruiser. 
 
 The noise made in preparing the small boat for 
 lowering over the side of the big ship could be 
 plainly heard. 
 
 " Go below, all of you, and as quietly as you 
 can," whispered Mr. Henderson. 
 
 Andy, Mark and Jack obeyed. At that instant 
 the side of the warship was almost deserted, for the 
 sailors who had gathered to observe the Porpoise 
 had gone to lower the small boat. 
 
 No sooner had Jack, who was in the rear, disap- 
 peared through the manhole than the professor, 
 with a quick jump, followed him.
 
 30 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 " Here ! Come back ! " shouted the warship's 
 captain as he saw Mr. Henderson's head disap- 
 pearing from view. " Come back I say ! " 
 
 But with a quick movement the inventor pulled 
 down the manhole cover and clamped it. Then he 
 sprang to the conning tower, and, with a jerk, 
 opened the levers that admitted water to the tanks. 
 The Porpoise began to sink slowly, and then more 
 suddenly, so that, in less than a minute, she was 
 out of sight beneath the waves, and the angry, 
 gold-laced captain was staring in wonderment at 
 the place where the submarine had been. The 
 spot was marked only by a few bubbles and some 
 foam. 
 
 " I guess he'll wait some time for an explana- 
 tion," spoke Mr. Henderson, as he started the big 
 screw and sent the Porpoise ahead at a swift pace. 
 
 " That was rather a narrow escape," observed 
 Jack, standing at the foot of the conning tower 
 stairs and talking to Andy and Mr. Henderson, 
 who was steering. 
 
 " It certainly was," agreed the professor. " I 
 have not yet become used to seeing things very far 
 ahead in the dimness caused by being under water. 
 But we'll soon get used to it. Luckily, the Por- 
 poise was not damaged by the shock." 
 
 For several hours the Porpoise was kept on her 
 course. She behaved handsomely, and nothing
 
 IN THE MIDST OF FIRE 31 
 
 excepting slight and easily remedied defects were 
 found. The professor steered well out to sea, in- 
 creasing both the forward speed and the depth to 
 which the vessel sank. Presently the craft came 
 to a stop with a little jolt. 
 
 " What's the trouble ? " asked Mark, somewhat 
 alarmed. 
 
 " Nothing at all," replied the professor with a 
 smile, as he stepped out of the conning tower and 
 entered the engine-room. " I thought it was time 
 for dinner so I stopped the ship. We are now 
 resting on the ocean bed, about half a mile below 
 the surface. Look! " 
 
 As he spoke he slid back the slides covering the 
 plate glass windows. The boys saw that the ship 
 rested in the midst of an immense forest of sea 
 weed. Some of the stalks were as large around as 
 trees. In and out among the snake-like, waving 
 branches swam big fishes. It was a weird, but 
 beautiful sight. 
 
 " Come, Washington, serve dinner," ordered 
 Mr. Henderson, and the colored man soon had a 
 good meal prepared. Few repasts have been eaten 
 under such strange circumstances. 
 
 Desiring to be back at his secluded dock by 
 nightfall, Captain Henderson soon started the 
 Porpoise up again. Without any accidents the re- 
 turn trip was made and by nine o'clock the Porpoise
 
 32 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 rode safely at the dock where she had been lauched. 
 
 The night was spent in the cabin on shore. 
 Early the next morning Mr. Henderson paid a 
 visit to the ship, to make a thorough examination 
 by daylight, and see if the craft had suffered any 
 damage. 
 
 " I think you and Mark will have to make a 
 trip to town," he said to Jack at the breakfast table. 
 " I need a new monkey wrench and some other 
 tools and some small pieces of machinery. I'll 
 give you a list of them, and you can bring them 
 back in a valise, for they will be quite numerous." 
 
 After the meal the inventor made a record of 
 what he needed and the boys started off. 
 
 " In case the machine shop does not have every- 
 thing and you have to wait for something, you had 
 better stay in the town all night," the captain of 
 the Porpoise said. " It is quite a long trip and I 
 don't want you traveling after dark. Put up at 
 the hotel if you are delayed." 
 
 Provided with money for their purchase, and a 
 large valise in which to carry them, the boys 
 started off. They had to walk two miles to where 
 a trolley line was built that ran to the town of 
 Easton, where they were to get the tools and parts 
 of machinery. 
 
 They made the trip safely and without incident. 
 When they gave the machinist, to whom they had
 
 IN THE MIDST OF FIRE 33 
 
 been directed by Mr. Henderson, the list of the 
 things needed, the man looked puzzled. 
 
 " I'll have to make one piece," he said. 
 " You'll have to wait for it. Can't promise it be- 
 fore tomorrow morning about eight o'clock." 
 
 "That will be all right," remarked Mark. 
 " We'll call for it then." 
 
 So, bearing in mind Mr. Henderson's instruc- 
 tions, the boys engaged a room at the hotel, which 
 was quite a large one, for Easton was a favorite 
 summer resort and the town was filled with visitors. 
 The lads strolled about the town, had their dinner, 
 and then went for a bath in the surf. They re- 
 tired early, for they were tired. 
 
 In the middle of the night Mark began to dream 
 that he was on board the Porpoise and that the 
 submarine blew up. There was a loud noise, he 
 saw a bright flash of flame, and saw rolling clouds 
 of smoke. So vivid was the vision that he thought 
 he tried to leap out of the boat, and awoke with a 
 jump, to find Jack shaking him. 
 
 "What's the matter?" inquired Mark. 
 
 " The hotel's on fire! " shouted Jack. 
 
 Mark sprang out of bed and with Jack rushed to 
 the window, for their room was filled with thick 
 smoke. They could see the dull glare of flames, 
 which every moment were becoming brighter. 
 
 The next instant a loud explosion shook the
 
 34 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 building. It swayed and seemed likely to topple 
 over. Outside the boys could hear excited shouts 
 and the puffing and whistling of fire engines. 
 
 "Quick! Run!" yelled Mark. He opened 
 the door leading into the corridor, but was driven 
 back by a rush of flames and smoke that almost 
 stifled him. 
 
 " We must try the fire escape ! " shouted Mark. 
 
 " Don't forget the valise with the tools; " ex- 
 claimed Jack, and Mark hastened to where he had 
 placed it under the bed. 
 
 Then the two boys rushed to the balcony on 
 which their front windows opened, and whence the 
 fire escapes led down to the streets. The lads had 
 only time to slip on their coats, trousers, shoes and 
 caps. 
 
 As they were preparing to clamber down the 
 iron ladders they heard someone on the balcony 
 next to them shout: 
 
 " Here, you boys ! Stop ! I want you ! "
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 A GRAVE ACCUSATION 
 
 " WE haven't time now ! " yelled back Mark, 
 looking in the direction of the voice, and seeing a 
 short, stout man, who appeared greatly excited. 
 
 " Stop or I'll shoot! " the man exclaimed. 
 
 " The fire must have made him crazy," said 
 Jack. " Go on, Mark, it's getting hot up above ! " 
 
 Mark did not linger on the ladder and soon the 
 two boys were in the street, surrounded by an ex- 
 cited crowd. 
 
 " Are you hurt? " asked several. 
 
 " I guess not," replied Mark. " What caused 
 the fire?" 
 
 " Some sort of an explosion," answered a police- 
 man. " Part of the hotel was blown up. If you 
 boys wish you can go to a station house where you'll 
 be comfortable until morning." 
 
 " I guess we will," said Mark. 
 
 They started to work their way through die 
 crowd but did not notice that the strange man fol- 
 lowed them. The fire was now burning fiercely, 
 
 35
 
 36 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 and once they had gotten clear of the press the 
 lads halted to look at the spectacle. 
 
 The hotel was now a mass of flames and the 
 firemen were kept busy. What with the puffing 
 of engines, the whistling of the steamers, the roar 
 of the flames, and the shouts of the crowd, pan- 
 demonium reined. 
 
 The boys watched the fire for some time. Grad- 
 ually the flames came under the control of the 
 men and the leaping tongues died out. 
 
 " I guess we'd better go to the police station," 
 suggested Jack. 
 
 Mark agreed this would be a good thing to do, 
 as both of them felt rather chilly in the night 
 air with only half of their clothes on. They in- 
 quired their way of the first policeman they saw, 
 and he volunteered to escort them. 
 
 " Sure an' you'll have plenty of company," he 
 said. " The hotel was full an' the people have no 
 place to go except to the lock-up. Some swells 
 will be glad to take a place behind the bars to- 
 night I'm thinkin'. I wonder how some of those 
 English aristocrats will like it?" 
 
 " English aristocrats ? " repeated Jack. " Are 
 any here? " 
 
 " Sure. There's a lot of them burned out. 
 Lord Peckham was stoppin' at the hotel with a 
 big crowd of people, an' their apartments was all
 
 A GRAVE ACCUSATION 37 
 
 destroyed. Some of 'em went to the police sta- 
 tion." 
 
 The boys followed their uniformed guide 
 through the streets of Easton, and were soon at 
 the station house. There they were received by 
 the sergeant in charge, while the matron gave them 
 each a cup of hot coffee, a large pot of the bev- 
 erage having been brewed. 
 
 " I'll have to give you boys one bed between 
 you," said the sergeant. " We're rather crowded 
 for room tonight." 
 
 " Anything will do us," said Jack with a laugh. 
 
 Just then there was some excitement at the en- 
 trance of the police station. 
 
 " I tell you they're in here ! I will see them! " 
 a voice exclaimed. " I want them arrested at 
 once!" 
 
 " Go easy now," counseled the doorman 
 as he tried to hold back a short, stout, excited man 
 who was pushing his way into the station. 
 
 ' There they are ! " exclaimed the man, point- 
 ing to Jack and Mark. 
 
 ' Why those boys are from the burned hotel," 
 said the doorman. 
 
 " I know it! They are the very ones I want! " 
 ' What do you of us? " spoke up Mark. He 
 recognized the man as the one who had called to 
 him as he and Jack were escaping.
 
 38 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 " I charge you with being sons of James Dar- 
 row, the notorious English anarchist! " cried the 
 little man, pointing his finger at the boys, " ancf 
 I accuse you of trying to kill Lord Peckham with 
 a bomb, the explosion of which set fire to the 
 hotel!" 
 
 For a moment the surprising charge so aston- 
 ished every one that not a word was said. Then 
 the little man, advancing toward the boys went 
 on: 
 
 " I arrest you in the name of His Royal High- 
 ness, Edward VII, King of England, Scotland 
 and Wales." 
 
 He threw back the lapel of his coat and showed 
 a badge. 
 
 " King of England, Scotland and Wales, is it! " 
 exclaimed the doorman with a twinkle in his 
 eye. " An' why didn't ye say Ireland into the 
 bargain." 
 
 " Ireland, of course," went on the little man. 
 u I'm an officer of His Most Gracious Majesty," 
 he added, " and I demand the assistance of the 
 United States authorities in general and the police 
 of Easton in particular in taking these desperate 
 criminals into custody ! " 
 
 " Hold your horses," advised the desk-sergeant. 
 '* Those boys are not liable to run away. They're 
 to stay here over night, and if you have any charge
 
 A GRAVE ACCUSATION 39 
 
 to make against them why you'll have to come and 
 see the judge in the morning." 
 
 " But they are sons of an anarchist I They 
 are anarchists themselves ! " exclaimed the man. 
 " I must arrest them ! " 
 
 " You're not going to arrest anybody," said 
 the sergeant, " until you get a warrant from the 
 judge. This isn't England." 
 
 " Then I'm going to stay with these boys the 
 rest of the night," insisted the man. " I can't 
 take any chances on their giving me the slip." 
 
 " This place is going to be crowded with peo- 
 ple from the burned hotel," objected the sergeant. 
 " There will be no room for you. Besides, how 
 do I know these boys are anarchists? " 
 
 " Look in their valise," cried the stranger. " It 
 is filled with bombs." 
 
 " You can't look in this satchel," exclaimed 
 Jack, for he remembered the valise contained parts 
 of the professor's secret machines. 
 
 " What did I tell you ? " cried the Englishman 
 with triumph in his tones. " They are the guilty 
 ones. They are afraid to open their valise." 
 
 " We are, but not because it has bombs in 
 it," said Mark. " It has parts of an unpatented 
 machine and the owner does not want any one 
 to see them," for Mark remembered Mr. Hen- 
 derson's strict injunctions to let no one but the
 
 40 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 mechanist to whom they had gone catch a glimpse 
 of the parts that were to be duplicated. The ma- 
 chinist was sworn to secrecy. 
 
 " It's none of our affair," said the sergeant, 
 though he seemed a little impressed by the English- 
 man's words and the reluctance Mark and Jack 
 showed to letting the valise be opened. " The 
 boys will be here until morning, and then you can 
 see the judge. Now you'll have to get out. You 
 boys get to bed." 
 
 Muttering threats, the stranger went from the 
 station house, and Mark and Jack, in response 
 to a nod from the doorman, followed him up- 
 stairs to a part of the police station used to detain 
 witnesses. They were shown to a small room 
 with a single bed. 
 
 "Are ye really anarchists?" asked the door- 
 man. 
 
 " Not a bit," replied Jack, and he told as much 
 of their story as he dared. 
 
 " I was kind-of hopin' ye was," said the officer 
 with a twinkle in his eye. " It wouldn't do any 
 harm to scare that uppish Englishman a bit. Sure 
 he an' his kind have done enough to poor old 
 Ireland." 
 
 " I'm sorry we can't oblige you," said Mark 
 with a laugh. 
 
 " I guess ye're all right," went on >he door-
 
 A GRAVE ACCUSATION 41 
 
 man. " I hope ye sleep good the rest of the 
 night." 
 
 Then he left them alone. What with the ex- 
 citement of the fire "and the startling accusation 
 against them, the boys' brains were too excited 
 to let them sleep much. They had a few fitful 
 naps throughout the remainder of the night. 
 
 It was just getting daylight when Mark was 
 awakened by some one shaking him. 
 
 M What is it? " he asked. " Another fire? " 
 
 " Not this time," replied a voice, and Mark, 
 now that his eyes were fully opened, saw the door- 
 man bending over him. 
 
 "What's the matter?" asked Jack waking up 
 in his turn. 
 
 " Easy ! " exclaimed the doorman in a whisper. 
 u I happened to think ye might want to be leavin'." 
 
 "Leaving?" asked Mark in bewilderment. 
 
 * Yes. Ye know that Englishman is liable 
 to be back any minute, an' he may make trouble 
 for ye. I know ye're innocent lads, an' I'd hate 
 to see ye mixed up in a mess with that fellow. So 
 I slips up here early, an' ye can leave by the back 
 door if ye want to, an' the officer of His Imperial 
 Majesty, King Edward VII, will never know a 
 thing about it." 
 
 ;< It looks like running away," objected Jack. 
 
 " Sure there's no charge agin ye," went on the
 
 42 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 doorman. " Ye're free to come an' go as far as 
 we're concerned, an' ye'd better go whilst ye have 
 the chance." 
 
 Jack reflected. It was true that the charge of 
 the Englishman, baseless as it was, might make 
 trouble for them, and cause them endless delays 
 in getting back to Professor Henderson. Sud- 
 denly Jack made up his mind. 
 
 " Come on Mark," he said.
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 ON A RUNAWAY TROLLEY 
 
 " ARE you going to leave ? ' asked Mark. 
 
 " Certainly. There is no use staying here and 
 getting mixed up in something that Englishman 
 thinks we have done. It's easier to go away 
 quietly and let him find out his mistake." 
 
 " All right," agreed Mark. " I wonder who 
 he is, anyhow ? " 
 
 " He thinks he owns the earth, whoever he is," 
 returned Jack. 
 
 " He's some sort of a special detective travel- 
 ing with Lord Peckham's party," explained the 
 doorman. " He told us a lot about himself last 
 night after you boys went to bed. He came back 
 to inquire how early the judge would be here. 
 
 " He went on to tell how some English anar- 
 chists have vowed to kill Lord Peckham because 
 he foreclosed a lot of mortgages on some poor 
 people in Ireland where he owned property," 
 added the doorman. " There was some sort of 
 explosions in the hotel, near where Lord Peck- 
 ham had his rooms. Maybe it was a bomb and, 
 
 43
 
 44 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 maybe ag'in it was only the boiler. Anyhow, 
 this detective jumped to the conclusion that anar- 
 chists had done it, and he thinks you are respon- 
 sible. But you'd better be goin' now. It's get- 
 tin' daylight." 
 
 So Mark and Jack, with what scanty clothes 
 they had, and carrying their valise, went quietly 
 out of the back door of the police station. 
 
 " We'd better go to the machine shop for the 
 rest of the stuff," suggested Mark, " and then we 
 can take the first trolley we see and get back to 
 the professor." 
 
 Through quiet side streets the boys made their 
 way toward the machine shop. They were some- 
 what amused to think how they had fooled the 
 detective, but they would not have felt so jolly 
 had they seen the roughly dressed man who had 
 darted after them as soon as they left the police 
 station. 
 
 " I'll get you yet," the man muttered. " You 
 needn't think to escape with the aid of these 
 bloomin' American police." 
 
 The lads found the machinist just opening his 
 shop though it was quite early. The pieces of 
 apparatus were finished and, after paying for them 
 Mark put the parts in the valise. 
 
 " Quite a fire in town," observed the machin- 
 ist.
 
 ON A RUNAWAY TROLLEY 45 
 
 " Yes," answered Mark, not wishing to get into 
 a Jong conversation. 
 
 " Heard the hotel was blowed up by anarchists 
 and that the police a're after 'em," proceeded the 
 man. 
 
 " I believe I did hear something like that," 
 admitted Mark. " I guess we'll be going." 
 
 He signalled to Jack, and the two hurried out 
 of the shop. As they did so, the trampish-look- 
 ing man glided from behind a tree where he had 
 been hiding and took after them. 
 
 " Say," exclaimed Jack, " I forgot we haven't 
 had any breakfast yet." 
 
 " That's so," said Mark, rubbing his stomach 
 and making a wry face. 
 
 Near by was a bakery, and there the lads got 
 some coffee and rolls which tasted fine. When 
 they finished their simple meal a trolley came 
 past and they ran to catch it. So did the man 
 who had been following them, but this person 
 bore no resemblance to the spruce little detec- 
 tive who had wanted to arrest the boys. 
 
 " A couple of hours now and we'll be back 
 at the cabin," spoke Mark. " My, but I must say 
 we have had strenuous times since we started 
 away! " 
 
 There were few passengers on the trolley so 
 early in the morning and not many, stops to make,
 
 46 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 so the motorman turned on the power full and 
 made the vehicle speed along. 
 
 Mile after mile was covered and finally the car 
 reached the top of a long hill. At the foot of 
 this the line came to an end, and the boys had a 
 two mile tramp before them to reach the lonely 
 spot where the Porpoise was docked. 
 
 Down the hill the car started. The motor- 
 man shut off the electricity and let the vehicle run 
 by its weight. 
 
 Faster and faster it ran, the dust flying In a 
 cloud about it. 
 
 " Better put the brakes on a bit," called the 
 conductor. " It's gettin' kinder speedy, Hank! " 
 
 The motorman twisted the handle. There was 
 a grinding noise as the shoes took hold on the 
 wheels. Then a chain snapped and the car 
 seemed to leap ahead. 
 
 "The brake's busted! I can't stop the car! " 
 yelled the motorman. 
 
 Vainly he twisted at the handle. Then, see- 
 ing he could not stop the trolley car he made a 
 desperate jump off the vehicle and landed in a 
 heap on the side of the road, rolling over and 
 over. 
 
 " Reverse the current! " cried one of the passen- 
 gers, to the conductor. " That ought to stop 
 her!"
 
 ON A RUNAWAY TROLLEY 47 
 
 The conductor made his way to the front plat- 
 form and turned the reversing lever. Then he 
 applied the current. But it was no use. With 
 a blinding flash and a report like that of a gun 
 a fuse blew out, and that crippled the car com- 
 pletely so far as the electric current was concerned. 
 
 " Everybody jump ! " cried the conductor. 
 " There's a curve at the foot of the hill, and we'll 
 all be killed if we stay on ! " 
 
 One by one the passengers leaped from the car. 
 Several were badly hurt by the falls they got. 
 Meanwhile the trolley was tearing down the hill 
 at a terrific rate of speed. 
 
 " Shall we jump? " asked Mark of Jack. 
 
 " We'll be killed if we do," was Jack's answer. 
 
 " And we'll be killed if we stay aboard," said 
 Mark. 
 
 " Not if I can help it," cried Jack as he started 
 for the rear platform. 
 
 " What are you going to do? " asked Mark. 
 
 " Put on the other brake. They never thought 
 to try this one ! Maybe it will work and stop 
 the car!" 
 
 Then Mark saw what Jack was up to and 
 went to help him. The shabbily dressed man 
 seemed undecided what to do. He stood up, 
 holding to the straps to prevent himself from 
 being tossed from side to side as the runaway
 
 48 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 trolley swayed. He watched the boys curiously. 
 
 The lads, reaching the rear platform, twisted 
 at the brake handle with all their strength. They 
 could feel that the chain was still intact. But 
 would the shoes grip the wheels with force suf- 
 ficient to stop the car? 
 
 There was a shrill screech as the brakes were 
 applied by the boys. With all their might they 
 turned the handle, winding the chain up tighter 
 and tighter. At last they could not budge it an- 
 other inch. Then they waited anxiously. 
 
 The car never slackened its speed. So great 
 was the momentum that had both sets of brakes 
 been in working order it is doubtful whether they 
 would have stopped the vehicle. The speed was 
 so great now that one of the journals became hot 
 and the oily waste that was packed in it caught 
 fire, making what railroad men term a " hot box". 
 
 " I guess we're done for," groaned Mark. 
 
 " We certainly haven't checked the speed any," 
 Jack admitted. " But wait a minute." 
 
 He began stamping on the floor of the platform. 
 
 "What you doing?" cried Mark, for he had 
 to shout to make his voice heard above the roar 
 and rattle of the car. 
 
 " Putting on the sand," replied Jack, as he 
 kicked at the plunger which, being depressed, let 
 a stream of fine gravel out on the rails. " The
 
 ON A RUNAWAY TROLLEY 49 
 
 wheels are gripped I think, and are slipping on 
 the rails. This may help some." 
 
 " Let me give you a hand," exclaimed a voice, 
 and the boys turned to see the shabby man stand- 
 ing with them on the platform. He grasped the 
 brake handle, and gave it an additional turn. His 
 strength seemed remarkable for so small a man. 
 
 The speed of the car was checked a little, but 
 the vehicle was still speeding along at a rate that 
 would soon bring it to destruction if not halted 
 before the curve was reached. 
 
 " That's a little better," observed Mark. " It's 
 a good thing you were here." 
 
 " Good for me, not so good for you," said the 
 man with a peculiar smile. 
 
 "What do you mean?" asked Mark. 
 
 " I mean that I shall have to place you under 
 arrest for attempting to assassinate Lord Peck- 
 ham ! " exclaimed the man. " I am Detective 
 Ducket, of Scotland Yard! " 
 
 He stripped off a false beard he had donned, 
 and threw back his coat, displaying his shield. 
 He was the same man who had attempted to arrest 
 the boys in the police station at Easton. 
 
 " I've got you just where I want you now," 
 Detective Ducket went on. " There are none of 
 those blooming American police to interfere." 
 
 The next instant the car gave a sudden lurch.
 
 50 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 Then it seemed to rise up in the air. Jack felt 
 himself flying through space, and he observed 
 Mark, who was clinging to the valise, following 
 him. 
 
 There was a terrific crash, a ripping, tearing 
 splintering sound, and the runaway trolley smashed 
 into a big oak tree at the foot of the hill. The 
 vehicle had completely jumped the track at the 
 sharp curve. 
 
 Jack's eyes grew dim, and he seemed to be 
 sinking down in some dark pool of water. He 
 heard a splashing beside him and began to strike 
 out, trying to swim. He seemed to be choking. 
 Then the blessed air and daylight came to him, 
 and he found he was floating on the surface of 
 a pond. 
 
 He dashed the water from his eyes and saw, 
 over on the bank, the wreck of the trolley. Then 
 he noticed that Mark was swimming beside him. 
 
 " What happened? " asked Jack. 
 
 " A little of everything," panted Mark. 
 " Lucky we weren't killed. We must have been 
 flung off the rear platform into this duck pond." 
 
 The boys soon made their way to shore, un- 
 hurt except for the wetting. The fall into the 
 water had saved their lives. 
 
 "Where's the valise of machinery?" asked 
 Jack.
 
 ON A RUNAWAY TROLLEY 51 
 
 " There it is," answered Mark pointing to 
 where it had fallen at the back of the pond. 
 
 " And what became of Detective Ducket ? " 
 
 " He's here, at your service ! " exclaimed a 
 voice. " Consider yourselves under arrest and 
 don't you dare to leave this place without me." 
 
 The boys looked in the direction of the sound 
 and saw the English officer lying on the grass not 
 far away. He seemed in pain, but had raised 
 himself on his elbow and was pointing his finger 
 sternly at the boys.
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 OFF FOR THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 " ARE you hurt ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " I think my leg is broken, but otherwise I'm 
 not damaged," replied the detective. " Even if 
 I am disabled, it makes no difference, you are 
 my prisoners. I command you to stay here until 
 help comes." 
 
 The boys did not know what to do. They did 
 not like to see even an enemy suffer, but, at the 
 same time, they knew he had no right to arrest 
 them. 
 
 " Here comes a wagon," said Mark, catching 
 the sound of wheels. 
 
 " Well, fo' de land sakes ! Gollyation ! What 
 terrible catafterme hab occurred in dis unapproach- 
 able manner ? " a voice demanded. 
 
 " It's Washington ! " cried Mark, as he saw 
 Professor Henderson's colored assistant driving 
 along the road. 
 
 " Dat's who it am ! " exclaimed Washington as 
 he noticed the boys. " My! My! But am you 
 boff dead?" 
 
 52
 
 OFF FOR THE SOUTH POLE 53 
 
 " No, only one of us," said Mark with a laugh, 
 as he and Jack ran toward the wagon. 
 
 " Ha ! Ha ! Dat's one ob yo' jokes," said 
 Washington. " But hurry up, boys. De perfes- 
 sor he done sent me to meet you. He reckoned 
 you'd becomin' ober on an early trolley. He's in 
 a hurry to git away." 
 
 " Don't you boys dare to leave ! " exclaimed 
 Detective Ducket. 
 
 "Who's dat?" asked Washington. 
 
 " Never mind," said Mark. " He was hurt 
 in the trolley smash, but not badly. We'll send 
 help from the first farm house we come to. Come 
 on, Washington, we'll go with you." 
 
 The boys jumped into the wagon, and Wash- 
 ington started off. He explained that the inven- 
 tor was anxious to make a start that day, as there 
 would be an unusually high tide which would be 
 followed a little later by a low one, and that 
 would make it difficult to cross the harbor bar. 
 
 " So I hired dis wagon an' come after you," 
 said the colored man. 
 
 At the first house they came to the boys stopped 
 and told about the accident. The farmer agreed 
 to go and get the detective and the others who 
 were hurt and take them to a hospital. 
 
 " I guess we're rid of that detective now," ob- 
 served Jack, as they started off again.
 
 54 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 " Yes, but we're getting away under a cloud on 
 our characters," said Mark. u I'd like to stay 
 and see the thing through, if we had time." 
 
 " But we can't, and there's no use worrying 
 over it," spoke Jack. 
 
 In a short time they were at the inventor's 
 cabin, and related to Mr. Henderson all that had 
 occurred. 
 
 " Well I guess your detective friend will have 
 a hard time to find you in a few hours," said the 
 old man. " We start on our trip for the south 
 pole this evening." 
 
 There were busy times for the next few hours. 
 Many supplies had to be placed on board, and, 
 while the boys, with Tom and Bill, saw to this 
 the professor and Washington were occupied with 
 putting the last touches to the submarine boat's 
 machinery. 
 
 Most of the supplies from the cabin were placed 
 in the Porpoise, including food and clothing and 
 a good quantity of minerals that, with sea water, 
 generated the gas that made steam. 
 
 An early supper was made on shore, as the 
 professor said they might be so busy for the firsfc 
 few hours of the starting trip that they would 
 get no chance to eat. Then the cabin and build- 
 ings where the submarine had been built, were 
 securely fastened.
 
 OFF FOR THE SOUTH POLE 55 
 
 " I guess we're all ready," announced the pro- 
 fessor, taking a last look around. 
 
 One by one they went aboard the Porpoise 
 crawling down through the man hole. The inven- 
 tor was the last one to enter. He clamped the 
 cover on by means of the cam levers and switched 
 on the electric lights. Then he took his place in 
 the conning tower with Andy Sudds. 
 
 " Forward, to the South Pole ! " exclaimed Mr. 
 Henderson. 
 
 With a turn of his wrist the inventor started 
 the engines. The big screw in the shaft revolved, 
 pulling the water in at one end of the craft and 
 sending it out in a swirling stream at the other. 
 The trip was fairly begun. 
 
 For several miles the Porpoise glided along on 
 the surface of the ocean. It was a calm evening, 
 and the boys down in the cabin of the craft could 
 look into the reflecting mirrors on the wall, which 
 were connected with observation magnifying 
 glasses in the conning tower, and view what was 
 going on, though their heads were below the sur- 
 face of the sea. 
 
 As it grew darker the view of shore and water 
 faded away. The engine kept up its speed with 
 Washington to see to it every now and then, oil- 
 ing the bearings, some of which did not run quite 
 smoothly because of their newness.
 
 56 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 " I'll send her down a bit now," observed the 
 professor. " I don't want to run into any more 
 warships or scare the crews by making them think 
 we are a foreign torpedo boat." 
 
 He opened the sea cocks in the ballast tanks 
 and soon the Porpoise sunk about two hundred 
 feet beneath the waves. The craft, which had 
 been pitching and tossing under the influence of 
 a ground swell, became more steady and quiet 
 once it left the surface. 
 
 The searchlight in the conning tower was 
 turned on, and in the glare of it Andy and the 
 professor were able to stear properly, aided by 
 the compass which gave them the true southern 
 course. 
 
 It was now quite dark. Additional electric 
 lights were switched on in the cabin, engine and 
 dining room. Andy came out of the conning 
 tower and announced that Captain Henderson 
 wanted Washington to get supper. 
 
 All the cooking was done by electricity, and, 
 in addition to a supply of the usual and ordinary 
 kinds of food, there was a big lot of patent con- 
 densed victuals to draw on. Soup, broiled steak, 
 potatoes, hot biscuits, rice pudding and coffee made 
 up the repast which was enjoyed by all. 
 
 Toward the close of the meal Professor Hen- 
 derson began to sniff the air of the cabin.
 
 OFF FOR THE SOUTH POLE 57 
 
 " What's the matter? Do you smell a storm 
 brewing? " asked Andy. 
 
 " No, but the air is not as fresh as it should 
 be," replied the inventor. " Washington, release 
 a little more of the supply from the compression 
 tanks." 
 
 The ship, which had been left to steer itself 
 automatically while the professor was absent from 
 the conning tower, was moving along at about 
 half speed. The gage showed they were going at 
 twenty miles an hour, and were three hundred feet 
 below the surface. 
 
 " Washington and I will share the first night's 
 watch between us," said the inventor, after the 
 supper things had been cleared away. ' There 
 will not be much to do, as the ship will stear 
 automatically in whatever direction I set her. 
 Still I want to see how she behaves. The rest 
 of you might as well go to your bunks." 
 
 The two boys were especially glad of a chance 
 to go to bed, as they had had but little sleep the 
 night before on account of the fire. So they lost 
 no time in undressing and rolling up in the 
 blankets, for it was quite cool so far down under 
 the water. 
 
 ' Well, we've slept on the earth, above the 
 earth and now we're under the waters," observed 
 Jack.
 
 58 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 " There's only one place more to spend your 
 time taking a snooze," said Mark. 
 
 "Where's that?" 
 
 " Inside the earth." 
 
 Then they fell asleep. During the night and 
 the next day the Porpoise forged on underneath 
 the waves. Washington relieved Mr. Henderson 
 in the conning tower and reported the machinery 
 to be working well. 
 
 " Keep her headed due south," was the order 
 of the inventor, and the colored man did so. 
 
 It was about four o'clock one morning that 
 Washington felt a slight jar to the submarine. 
 
 " Hope we ain't goin' to hit no more battle- 
 ships," he said. 
 
 He glanced at the speed-indicating gage. To 
 his surprise it stood at zero. The craft was not 
 moving forward a foot! Yet the engines were 
 going at half speed ! 
 
 In great alarm Washington shut off the power 
 and ran to acquaint Professor Henderson with the 
 news. 
 
 " Suffin's ketched us!" cried the colored man. 
 
 " Nonsense ! " said the inventor, yet he seemed 
 alarmed as he slipped on his clothes and hastened 
 to the conning tower. 
 
 He peered ahead along the path of water 
 illuminated by the glare of the searchlight, but
 
 OFF FOR THE SOUTH POLE 59 
 
 nothing was to be seen. Then he started the en- 
 gine, increasing the speed gradually until the big 
 screw in the shaft revolved more than one thous- 
 and times a minute; Still the Porpoise never 
 stirred. She remained in the same position, as 
 if some giant hand grasped her. 
 
 " Reverse the engine," said the professor. 
 
 Washington did so. To the surprise of both of 
 them the ship shot backward like a frightened 
 crab. 
 
 "Now forward!" exclaimed the old inventor. 
 
 But this time the Porpoise did not move. It 
 was as if she was up against a stone wall. 
 
 "What's the matter?" asked Mark, who had 
 been awakened by the excitement on board. 
 
 " I do not know," replied Mr. Henderson 
 gravely. " Something mysterious has occurred. 
 We can go no further ! "
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 ASHORE IN THE DARK 
 
 " STOP the engine," the captain commanded 
 after he had peered through the lens in the conning 
 tower for some time. " We must see what is the 
 matter." 
 
 He glanced at the depth gage and noted that 
 they were now four hundred feet below the sur- 
 face. Then he consulted some charts. 
 
 " There is a depth of one thousand feet about 
 here," he remarked. " Lower the ship, Wash- 
 ington. Let us see if by getting on the ocean bed 
 we can get away from this obstruction." 
 
 The colored man opened wider the sea cocks 
 by which the tanks were filled. The increased 
 ballast sunk the Porpoise still lower, and, in a few 
 minutes a slight jar told the navigators that they 
 were on the bottom of the ocean. 
 
 " Now we will see if we have cleared the ob- 
 struction," said the professor. 
 
 He started the big screw to revolving, but the 
 ship did not move. It shivered and trembled 
 throughout its length but remained stationary. 
 
 60
 
 ASHORE IN THE DARK 61 
 
 " Maybe dar's a debil fish what hab circumulated 
 dis ship in de exteror portion ob his anatomy," 
 suggested Washington, rolling his eyes until only 
 the whites were visible. 
 
 " I presume you mean that a giant squid or 
 cuttle fish has attacked us," spoke the professor. 
 
 " Yas, sir," replied Washington. 
 
 " That's nonsense," went on the inventor. 
 " However, we must make an investigation." 
 
 " How are you going to do it? " asked Mark. 
 " You can't see the end of the tube from inside 
 the ship, and, even if we went to the surface it 
 would still be under water." 
 
 ' We are going to look at it while here, under 
 the ocean," said the inventor. 
 
 ' Well, maybe you're a good swimmer," put in 
 Jack, " but I don't believe you can stay under, in 
 this depth of water, long enough to see what the 
 trouble is." 
 
 " I think I can," answered Mr. Henderson. 
 
 "How?" 
 
 " I'll show you. Washington, bring out the 
 diving suits." 
 
 The colored man, his eyes growing bigger every 
 minute, went to a locker and brought out what 
 seemed quite a complicated bit of apparatus. 
 
 ' With the aid of these," said the professor, " I 
 will be able to go out, walk along the ocean bed,
 
 62 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 and investigate the mystery. Do you boys want 
 to come along ? " 
 
 " Is it safe? " asked Mark, who was inclined to 
 be cautious. 
 
 " As safe as any part of this under-sea voyage," 
 replied the professor. " These diving suits are 
 something I have not told you about," he went 
 on. "They are my own invention. Besides the 
 regular rubber suits there is an interlining of steel, 
 1 something like the ancient suits of chain mail 
 to withstand the great pressure of water. Then, 
 instead of being dependent on a supply of air, 
 pumped into the helmet from an apparatus in a 
 boat on the surface, each person carries his own 
 air supply with him." 
 
 "How is that?" asked Jack, and Mark also 
 asked the question. 
 
 " Simply by attaching a little tank of the com- 
 pressed gas to the shoulder piece of the suit," 
 said the inventor. " There is enough air in the 
 tank to last for nearly a day. It is admitted to 
 the helmet as needed by means of automatic 
 valves. In other respects the diving suit is the 
 same as the ordinary kind, except that there is a 
 small searchlight, fed by a storage battery, on top 
 of the helmet." 
 
 In spite of their fears at venturing out under 
 the great ocean, the two boys were anxious to
 
 ASHORE IN THE DARK 63 
 
 try the suits. So, after some hesitation, they 
 donned them. 
 
 " Here, take these with you," said the pro- 
 fessor, before their helmet were screwed on. 
 He held out what looked like long sticks. 
 
 " What are they? " asked Jack. 
 
 " Electric guns," replied the professor. " But 
 come on now, we have no time to lose." 
 
 Further conversation was impossible, for the 
 boys had their heavy copper helmets on, and they 
 were as tightly enclosed as if inside a box. They 
 grasped their weapons and waited for the next 
 move. 
 
 The professor led the way to the stern of the 
 ship. The boys found it hard to walk, as they 
 were weighted down by the heavy suits, and also 
 the boots, the soles of which were of lead. 
 
 They followed the inventor into what seemed 
 a small room. Inside they found themselves in 
 darkness. There was a clanking sound as Wash- 
 ington fastened and clamped the door shut. Then 
 came a hissing. 
 
 The boys felt water rising about them. They 
 could experience its coldness, even through the 
 diving suits. They were much afraid, but the 
 professor put a reassuring hand on their shoulders. 
 
 They seemed to feel a great weight. It grad- 
 ually lessened, however, and, in a few minutes, they
 
 64 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 saw something move in front of them. The pro- 
 fessor pushed them gently forward. 
 
 In another instant they were walking on the 
 bed of the ocean, having stepped from the 
 Porpoise. They had gone into a locked com- 
 partment, the inner door of which had been 
 tightly closed, after which water from outside had 
 been gradually admitted until the pressure was 
 equal, and then the boys and the professor had 
 merely to emerge out into the bottom of the sea 
 when the outer portal was swung aside by Wash- 
 ington, who worked the lever from inside. 
 
 The boys were in intense darkness, but, sud- 
 denly a light glowed about them, and they saw 
 that the professor had switched on his miniature 
 search lamp. They remembered how he had told 
 them to work the apparatus, and soon tiny gleams 
 shot out from their helmets. 
 
 The professor pointed ahead, for not a sound 
 could be heard, and the boys followed him. 
 
 It was a new sensation, this walking along the 
 bed of the ocean. At first the great pressure of 
 water, even though the steel lined diving suits kept 
 most of it off, was unpleasant. Gradually, how- 
 ever, the boys became used to it. They had to 
 move slowly, for the water was denser than the 
 air and impeded their progress. 
 
 In a few minutes they reached the forward
 
 ASHORE IN THE DARK 65 
 
 end of the Porpoise. Now they were to solve 
 the mystery of what had stopped the submarine. 
 For a few moments they could distinguish noth- 
 ing. 
 
 Suddenly the boys felt the professor grasping 
 their arms. They looked in the direction he 
 pointed. There in the diffused glare from the 
 search light and the illumination of their helmet 
 lamps they saw, wrapped about the forward shaft 
 opening a gigantic squid or devil fish. Its soft, 
 jelly-like body completely covered the opening of 
 the shaft preventing any water from entering, and 
 thus stopping any forward motion to the ship. 
 
 This was what had caused all the trouble. The 
 Porpoise had run into the monster, who feeling 
 what it must have thought an enemy, had grasped 
 the submarine with its long sinuous arms. 
 
 The professor hesitated a moment. Then he 
 slowly raised his electrical gun, and took aim at 
 the hideous mass. The boys followed his ex- 
 ample. At Mr. Henderson's signal they all fired 
 together. 
 
 From the muzzles of the guns darted small 
 barbs that carried with them a strong shock of 
 electricity, from storage batteries in the shoulder 
 pieces of the weapons. Three of them were 
 enough to produce death in an animal as large as 
 a whale.
 
 66 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 The devil fish quivered. Then the water about 
 it suddenly grew black, and the boys and the pro- 
 fessor were in dense darkness, for the squid had 
 dyed the ocean with a dark liquid from the sack 
 it carried for the purpose. 
 
 The explorers groped their way to the left, 
 having fortunately grasped hands after firing their 
 guns, to prevent being separated in case the ter- 
 rible fish began a death struggle. 
 
 Luckily Professor Henderson went in the right 
 direction and managed to locate the Porpoise. 
 Then, feeling along her steel sides, he led the 
 boys through the inky blackness to the water cham- 
 ber by which entrance could be had to the interior. 
 
 In a few minutes all three were safely inside 
 and had removed their diving suits. The others 
 crowded about, anxious to learn what had hap- 
 pened. The inventor related it briefly. 
 
 Once more the engines were started. This 
 time there was no hanging back on the part of 
 the Porpoise. The big screw revolved, the water 
 came in the shaft and was thrust out of the rear 
 end, making a current that sent the craft ahead 
 swiftly. The gigantic fish had been killed, and 
 its body no longer obstructed progress. 
 
 " Now we'll rise to the surface and see how it 
 feels to sail along that way for a while," said the 
 professor as he started the pumps that emptied
 
 ASHORE IN THE DARK 67 
 
 the tanks. In a little while the ship was floating 
 on the waves. 
 
 It was now night, and the clouds overhead made 
 it so dark that it was hard to see ten feet in ad- 
 vance. The professor did not want to use the 
 searchlight for he did not care to have his pres- 
 ence discovered by curious persons. So he ran 
 the ship at half speed. 
 
 ; ' Where are we now? " asked Mark, who had 
 entered the conning tower, where the professor 
 was stearing. 
 
 " Somewhere's off the coast of South Carolina," 
 replied the inventor. 
 
 The next instant there was a sudden shock and 
 jar. The ship quivered from stem to stern, and 
 came to an abrupt stop. 
 
 " We've hit something ! " exclaimed the pro- 
 fessor, shutting down the engines with a jerk of 
 the lever.
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 A PRICE ON THEIR HEADS 
 
 ON board the Porpoise there was great excite- 
 ment. Washington, with Andy, Tom, Bill and 
 Jack came running from the engine room. 
 
 "What is it?" cried Jack. 
 
 " I don't know," answered the professor as 
 calmly as he could. " We'll soon see, however." 
 
 He switched on the searchlight and peered from 
 the conning tower. 
 
 "Can you see anything?" asked Andy, 
 anxiously. 
 
 " I can," announced the inventor. 
 
 "What?" 
 
 " Land," replied Mr. Henderson. " We've hit 
 the coast." 
 
 " I hope we ain't done no damage," put in 
 Washington. 
 
 " Do you mean to the coast or to us? " asked 
 the professor, with a smile. " I guess there isn't 
 much danger in ramming the shore excepting to 
 the Porpoise. However, we do not seem to be 
 in any immediate trouble." 
 
 68
 
 A PRICE ON THEIR HEADS 69 
 
 He tested various wheels and levers, and an- 
 nounced that, aside from the jar, which might have 
 started some of the machinery, the Porpoise was 
 unharmed. 
 
 The cover of the man-hole was loosened and, 
 one after another, the adventurers crawled out 
 on the small deck or platform. It took them a 
 little while to become accustomed to the darkness, 
 but soon they were able to make out that they 
 had run on the muddy bank of the ocean beach. 
 The tide was low and the Porpoise had rammed 
 her nose well into the soft muck, which accounted 
 for the lack of damage. 
 
 " Well, I guess there is nothing to do except- 
 ing to wait for morning," said Mr. Henderson. 
 " It doesn't look like a very lively neighborhood 
 about here. I don't believe we'll be disturbed." 
 
 Save for the splash and lapping of the waves 
 and the sound of the wind, it was as quiet as the 
 proverbial graveyard. Not a light showed on 
 shore, and the gleam from the search lamp of the 
 Porpoise cut the darkness like a small moonbeam. 
 
 "If there's nothing to do I'm going to turn 
 in," said Andy. " I'm tired." 
 
 The professor said this was a good suggestion, 
 and, leaving instructions that Washington and 
 Bill were to divide the night's watch between them, 
 the inventor sought his bunk.
 
 70 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 The boys remained on deck a few minutes 
 longer. 
 
 " We certainly are getting our share of adven- 
 tures," remarked Jack. 
 
 " I should say so," answered Mark. 
 
 " Gollyation yes ! " exclaimed Washington. 
 " You-uns done most been eat by dat air koslos- 
 trous specimen ob a parralleledon ! I'm glad I 
 didn't go. But I'se brave enough ! " 
 
 "What's that?" asked Mark suddenly, point- 
 ing to an object floating on the water. 
 
 Washington turned to behold something white 
 drifting along. 
 
 " Oh my good land ob mercy 1 It's a ghost! " 
 the colored man yelled. "It's a ghost! Land 
 a' massy ! Hide me some where, quick ! " 
 
 Washington fell on his knees and stretched up 
 his clasped hands in supplication. The boys 
 gazed curiously at the white object that was slowly 
 floating toward the stranded ship. 
 
 It rose and fell on the waves, with an odd mo- 
 tion. 
 
 " I wonder what it is," said Mark. 
 
 " We'll soon see," spoke Jack. " It's coming 
 this way." 
 
 " Don't go near it ! Don't touch it, boys I " 
 pleaded Washington. " It'll put de evil eye on 
 yo', suah ! Turn yo' haids away I "
 
 A PRICE ON THEIR HEADS 71 
 
 But the boys were not so easily frightened. 
 The white thing did look queer, but Jack reasoned 
 correctly that the darkness of the night magnified 
 it, and made it appear stranger than it probably 
 was. 
 
 " I'm going to try to get it," said Mark. 
 
 The white thing was now quite close. It re- 
 sembled a bundle of rags, floating on top of the 
 water, and, as it came nearer, it seemed to take 
 .on a curious form. 
 
 " It's a baby ! It's de ghost ob a little dead 
 baby! " cried the colored man. " Let it alone, I 
 tell you!" 
 
 Indeed, now that Washington had suggested 
 it, the boys could see a resemblance to a child in 
 the white object. But this did not deter them. 
 Jack secured a boat hook from where it was fast- 
 ened to the platform. With it he gently poked 
 at the white thing. The object seemed to collapse 
 and Jack was conscious of a strange feeling. 
 Then, with slow motions, he drew it close to the 
 side of the ship. 
 
 Lying on his face he was able to get a good 
 look at the thing. He muttered an exclamation. 
 
 " What is it?" cried Mark. 
 
 "Nothing but a newspaper! " announced Jack 
 with a laugh, as he threw it on the deck. " All 
 our trouble for nothing."
 
 72 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 " I shore thought it were a ghost," cried Wash- 
 ington as he got up from his knees. 
 
 The boys went to their bunks. They were the 
 first ones awake the next morning, and Jack fol- 
 lowed Mark on deck. 
 
 " There's the paper you rescued from drown- 
 ing," said Mark. 
 
 " So it is," came from Jack. " I wonder if 
 there's any news in it." 
 
 The sheet had dried out and Jack spread it 
 open. No sooner had he scanned the first page 
 than he uttered a whistle. 
 
 "Something startling?" asked Mark. 
 
 " Startling ! I guess yes ! Look here ! " 
 
 Mark looked over Jack's shoulder. Staring 
 at them, from amid a mass of other news was the 
 announcement in big black type : 
 
 REWARD FOR BOY ANARCHISTS! 
 
 Then followed an account of the burning of 
 the hotel at Easton, a vivid description with 
 pictures, of how it had been blown up in an at- 
 tempt to assasinate Lord Peckham, and how the 
 two boys, sons of an English anarchist, had es- 
 caped. 
 
 The rest of the story was given over to a de- 
 scription which Jack and Mark could see was
 
 A PRICE ON THEIR HEADS 73 
 
 meant for them though it was incorrect in several 
 particulars. How the boys had escaped the de- 
 tective, through the trolley car mishap, was related, 
 and then came the startling announcement that 
 the hotel authorities had offered a reward of 
 $ 1,000 for the capture of either or both of the 
 boy anarchists. To this Lord Peckham had added 
 an equal sum. 
 
 " Well, it looks as if we were of some impor- 
 tance in the world," remarked Jack. 
 
 " Rather," agreed Mark. " Think of having 
 a price on our heads! Well, that detective cer- 
 tainly is a hustler. When is that paper dated? " 
 
 Jack looked and saw that the sheet had been 
 issued in Charleston the day previous. It had 
 probably been thrown overboard from some 
 steamer, and had drifted toward shore. 
 
 While the boys were speculating over the mat- 
 ter Professor Henderson came on deck. He saw 
 something was up, and soon had the whole story 
 from the boys. 
 
 " I shouldn't worry about it," said the inventor. 
 ' They've got to catch you first, and it isn't like 
 running away when you know you are guilty. You 
 boys had no more to do with the fire than the man 
 in the moon. And we'll soon be beyond the reach 
 of rewards and newspapers." 
 
 Nevertheless, the boys brooded over the mat-
 
 74 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 ter. It seemed that they were still under a cloud, 
 and they wished very much that it could be cleared 
 away. 
 
 However there were soon busy times. The 
 rising tide floated the boat, and soon it was rid- 
 ing safely at anchor. The professor needed some 
 small bits of machinery, and had decided to send 
 the boys to the nearest town for them. But the 
 news in the paper changed his plans, and he sent 
 Bill and Washington, who soon returned with the 
 needed articles. 
 
 " Now we'll make another start," said Mr. 
 Henderson, as soon as all were on board once 
 more. " This time I hope we will keep on until 
 we reach the south pole! " 
 
 He started the engine, the Porpoise sank be- 
 neath the waves, and with a hum of the big screw 
 that throbbed and vibrated, was away again.
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 ATTACKED BY A MONSTER 
 
 FOR several days the Porpoise plowed her way 
 beneath the surface of the ocean. Obedient to 
 the directing hand of Professor Henderson she 
 rose or sank as the tanks were emptied or filled. 
 He put the craft through several rather difficult 
 movements to test her under all conditions. In 
 each one she was a success. 
 
 Dinner was sometimes eaten five hundred feet 
 below the surface. Then while Washington 
 washed the dishes and cleaned up the galley, Jack 
 and Mark looked from the side windows at the 
 strange life under water. 
 
 They were getting farther south now and the 
 water was warmer as the equator was approached. 
 This produced a great variety of animal life, and 
 the ocean fairly swarmed with fishes, big and lit- 
 tle, strange and curious that could be seen from 
 the glass bull's-eyes. 
 
 Great sharks swam up alongside of the Porpoise^ 
 keeping pace with her in spite of her speed. 
 Their cruel tigerish eyes and ugly mouths made 
 
 75
 
 76 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 the boys shudder as they looked at the creatures. 
 Then came odd creatures that seemed neither of 
 the land or sea, but which swam along with their 
 horrible bodies flapping up against the glass. 
 One and all, the inhabitants of the ocean seemed 
 to resent the intrusion of the submarine. 
 
 One day the boys turned the light out in the 
 cabin and sat in the darkness the better to observe 
 the fishes. The sea, in the vicinity of the ship, 
 was illuminated with a sort of glow that diffused 
 from the searchlight. 
 
 Suddenly, as the boys were watching, there came 
 a thud on the glass window at the port side. They 
 glanced in that direction to see some horrible 
 thing peering in at them through the window. 
 
 At first they were greatly frightened. Two 
 big eyes of green, with rims of what looked like 
 red fire, stared at them, and, there was an ugly 
 mouth lined with three rows of teeth. 
 
 " It's only a fish," said Mark. 
 
 " Well, I wouldn't like to meet it outside," 
 said Jack. " I'd rather be here. My, but it's 
 a nasty sight ! " 
 
 " Let's give Washington a little scare," sug- 
 gested Mark. 
 
 "How?" 
 
 " We'll go out and tell him some one in the 
 cabin want's to see him. The fish will stay there.
 
 ATTACKED BY A MONSTER 77 
 
 See, it is fastened to the glass by some sort of 
 suction arrangement, like the octupus fish have 
 on their arms. Then we'll look in and see what 
 Wash does." 
 
 Jack agreed to the plan. The boys left the 
 cabin, and Mark called to the colored man, who 
 was in the engine room. 
 
 " I'll go right instanter this minute," said 
 Washington. " Don't no grass grow under dis 
 chile's feet!" 
 
 " Now listen," said Mark as he and Jack tip- 
 toed after the colored man. 
 
 Washington had no sooner entered the darkened 
 cabin, and caught sight of the horrible staring red 
 and green eyes looking straight at him, than he let 
 out a yell that could be heard all over the ship. 
 Then the colored man dropped on his knees and 
 began to implore : 
 
 " Good please Mr. Satan fish, doan take Wash- 
 ington White," he begged. " It's all a mistake. I 
 didn't do nuffin. Good please Mr. Satan fish, take 
 some one else. It's disproportionate to de circum- 
 ulation ob de interiorness ob dis subicecream ship, 
 so kindly pass me by dis time ! " 
 
 ;| What's the matter? " asked Amos Henderson, 
 as he came hurrying into the cabin, seeking the 
 cause for Washington's loud cry. 
 
 Jack and Mark, who came in at that juncture,
 
 78 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 were a little bit ashamed of the trick they had 
 played. 
 
 " What is the trouble? " repeated Mr. Hender- 
 son. 
 
 " We's all goin' to be devoured alibe ! " cried 
 Washington pointing to the fish, that still clung 
 to the glass. 
 
 " Ah, a sucker fish ! " remarked the inventor. 
 " A large specimen, too. Don't be afraid Wash- 
 ington, it can't hurt you." 
 
 " He looks like he could," said the colored man. 
 "Look at dem teef! " 
 
 Indeed the creature's mouth was a horrible sight, 
 as it opened and shut. 
 
 " I'll show you how to get rid of him," said the 
 professor. 
 
 He turned on the electric lights in the cabin, 
 flooding the room with a bright glow. The big 
 fish darted off, and, when the lights were turned 
 out again, the terrible eyes did not reappear, much 
 to their satisfaction. 
 
 " The lights scared it away," remarked the in- 
 ventor. " But you mustn't get frightened so 
 easily, Washington. You'll see stranger sights 
 than that before you're through with this voy- 
 age. 
 
 " Oh I wasn't 'fraid," spoke up Washington. 
 " I were jest 'stonished, dat's all."
 
 ATTACKED BY A MONSTER 79 
 
 " What did you get down on your knees for? " 
 asked Mark with a grin. 
 
 " I might hab been lookin' for my collar button, 
 for all you knows," replied Washington, with an 
 air of great dignity, and went back to the engine 
 room. 
 
 For several days after this the Porpoise con- 
 tinued on her way south. Now and then appear- 
 ing on the surface to renew the supply of fresh 
 air, and again skimming along under the surface, 
 or deep down, the strange craft kept on. It grew 
 much warmer, and even when some distance below 
 the surface the heat could be felt in an uncom- 
 fortable manner. 
 
 " We're getting near the equator," explained the 
 professor. 
 
 One afternoon, when dinner had just been fin- 
 ished, and the ship, under the direction of Wash- 
 ington, was gliding along well under the sea, there 
 came a sudden shock. 
 
 "We've hit something!" exclaimed Mr. Hen- 
 derson as he jumped for the conning tower. The 
 shock was repeated. 
 
 '' What was it? " asked someone. 
 
 " Shut down the engine ! " yelled the inventor to 
 the colored man. " What do you want to go on 
 ramming an object after you've once hit it? Slow 
 down the engine ! "
 
 8o THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 " Power's shut off I " cried Washington. " We 
 didn't hit nothin' ! Something hit us ! " 
 
 " What do you mean? " asked Mr. Henderson. 
 
 " Somethin's rammin' us," went on Washington. 
 
 " It must be a big monster. I was sterrin' alon^ 
 an' there was nothin' in de road, when all of a sud- 
 dint, ker-plunk ! We's hit. Look ahead, an' you 
 can't see nothin' ! " 
 
 The professor, and the boys, who had followed 
 him, gazed out of the conning tower window. 
 There was nothing forward but a vast expanse of 
 water. 
 
 The next instant the ship careened as something 
 struck her a violent blow on the port side. Every- 
 one almost toppled over from the force of the im- 
 pact. 
 
 " Dar he goes agin ! " cried Washington. 
 
 " We're attacked by a whale! " said the profes- 
 sor. " We must rise to the surface or it may dam- 
 age the ship." 
 
 " If it's a whale I'd like to get a shot at it," put 
 in Andy Sudds, from the foot of the companion 
 ladder leading into the tower. 
 
 " I don't know that it is a whale," went on the 
 inventor. " But it must be something very big 
 and strong." 
 
 " It's a monster of some sort," put in Andy, 
 " and I want a chance at him."
 
 ATTACKED BY A MONSTER 81 
 
 " It's too risky," murmured the professor. 
 " We couldn't get down to bottom here, as the 
 water is several miles deep, and the pressure would 
 crush the Porpoise, strong as she is." 
 
 Once more came a terrible blow and the ship 
 rocked in a swirl of foam beneath the waves. In 
 quick succession two more fierce onslaughts were 
 made by the unseen monster. 
 
 " We'll have to do something," muttered Andy. 
 
 " You're right," agreed the professor. " Our 
 only chance is to rise to the surface, for I do not 
 believe the creature will follow us there. Empty 
 the tanks, Washington." 
 
 The colored man started the pumps, and the pro- 
 fessor watched the gages that told the depth of 
 the craft. The pointer should have begun to 
 swing around in a few seconds after the tanks be- 
 gan to empty. Instead it remained stationary. 
 
 " Strange," said Mr. Henderson. " I wonder 
 if anything is wrong with the machinery." 
 
 " More like the whale, or whatever it is, is on 
 top of the boat, holding her down," suggested 
 Andy. 
 
 There was no doubt of this a moment later, for 
 there were several violent blows on the upper part 
 of the Porpoise. 
 
 The crew of the submarine were held prisoners 
 below the surface by the unknown monster 1
 
 82 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 For a few minutes the thought of the awful fate 
 that would be theirs if the ship should be wrecked 
 under the water made each one speechless. As 
 they stood looking at each other, not knowing what 
 to do, the attack was renewed on the port side. 
 
 The big fish, whale or whatever it was, kept 
 pounding away. 
 
 " I have an idea I " cried Andy suddenly. 
 
 " What is it? " asked the professor quickly. 
 
 " Let me put a diving dress on," began the old 
 hunter. 
 
 " I tell you we can't sink to the bottom in this 
 depth of water," interrupted the professor. 
 
 " We don't need to," put in Andy. " All I 
 want is a diving suit and a chance to stand out in 
 the diving chamber. I guess I can fix Mr. Whale, 
 if I have one of those electric guns." 
 
 " Quick ! Get a diving suit, Washington ! " 
 cried Mr. Henderson. He saw what the old hun- 
 ter planned to do. 
 
 In a few minutes Andy was dressed in the suit. 
 The attacks of the monster had redoubled in fre- 
 quency, and the ship rocked as in a storm. 
 
 Andy stepped into the diving chamber, clasping 
 the electric gun. The innner door was tightly 
 closed and then the sea cocks that admitted water 
 from the outside were opened. When the pressure 
 inside the chamber was equal to that of the ocean
 
 ATTACKED BY A MONSTER 83 
 
 outside some one pulled the lever that opened the 
 outer door, 
 
 Andy knew better than to step outside. He re- 
 mained in the chamber, like a sentinel hid in the 
 embrasure of a wall, for the chamber was a sort 
 of big dent in the side of the Porpoise. 
 
 Once more the ship rocked from a terrific blow, 
 and the old hunter was nearly thrown out and into 
 the fathomless depths below. 
 
 He clung to the door lever and peered out. 
 Through the big glass eyes of his copper helmet 
 he saw headed straight at him a whale that seemed 
 larger than the submarine.
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 CAUGHT IN A SEA OF GRASS 
 
 " IT'S all up with me and the ship, too," thought 
 Andy as he stood in the small chamber and 
 watched the oncoming of the monster. 
 
 However, he was not going to die without a 
 fight, so he raised the electric gun. Yet he knew 
 it was a most forlorn chance. 
 
 He aimed straight down the big open mouth 
 and pulled the trigger. The next instant the water 
 all about him was a mass of foam, through which 
 he could dimly see that the whale had halted. 
 
 And, as the old hunter watched, in awe and 
 fear at what he saw, he noted that instead of one 
 monster there seemed to be a pair. Together they 
 were threshing the sea into a bloody foam. 
 
 Then, turning on the searchlight in his helmet, 
 Andy beheld a terrible sight. The whale had 
 been attacked by a gigantic swordfish at the mo- 
 ment the hunter had fired the shot, and it was that, 
 and not the electric bullet, that had stopped the in- 
 furiated animal's rush at the ship. 
 
 Ancient enemies, the whale and swordfish, had 
 84
 
 CAUGHT IN A SEA OF GRASS 85 
 
 met in mortal combat. The swordfish had en- 
 gaged the whale just as it was about to strike what 
 would probably have been a blow that would have 
 disabled the submarine, for with the door of the 
 diving chamber open, the onslaught might not have 
 been withstood. 
 
 Rushing here and there, the whale seeking to 
 destroy his enemy with a sweep of the enormous 
 flukes, and the swordfish plunging his bony weapon 
 again and again into the whale, the two monsters 
 fought until the water about the ship was a mass 
 of foam and blood. 
 
 Much as he wanted to see the end of the fight, 
 Andy knew it was dangerous to remain longer with 
 the door open. 
 
 He closed it, pressed the lever which started the 
 pumped, forcing the water from the chamber and, 
 in a few minutes, emerged into the interior of the 
 ship. 
 
 Mr. Henderson, realizing that something out 
 of the ordinary was going on, had opened the slides 
 of the bull's-eye windows, and those in the subma- 
 rine saw part of the fight between the whale and 
 swordfish. 
 
 As soon as Andy had removed his diving suit 
 he advised that the ship be sent to the surface, as 
 there might be danger should the monsters get too 
 close in their struggles.
 
 86 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 Accordingly the pumps, which had been stopped 
 when it was found impossible to raise the ship, 
 because of the weight of the whale, were started 
 and the Porpoise was soon on the surface. 
 
 The manhole cover was opened and Andy, with 
 Jack and Mark, went out on deck. They had no 
 sooner stepped out on the platform than there was 
 a commotion in the water. 
 
 " They're going to fight up here ! " exclaimed 
 Mark. 
 
 A big body shot upward and fell back with a 
 splash, rocking the submarine. 
 
 " There's the whale," observed Andy. " But I 
 reckon he won't fight any more. He's dead." 
 
 It was so. The swordfish had conquered, and 
 the lifeless body of the whale floated on top of the 
 water, only to sink a little later. 
 
 " It was a great battle," said Jack. " I'm glad 
 I was inside the ship." 
 
 The course was due south, and every minute it 
 seemed to the boys that it was getting warmer, for 
 they were approaching the equator. Every hour 
 brought them nearer the south pole, though they 
 were still several thousand miles from it. 
 
 After a while quite a wind sprang up, and as the 
 sea roughened the professor decided to go down 
 under the surface. The Porpoise sunk as the tanks 
 filled and, in a little while, the submarine was in
 
 CAUGHT IN A SEA OF GRASS 87 
 
 calm water, and was forging ahead at three-quarter 
 speed. 
 
 It was three days after the adventure with the 
 whale when, as the ship -was going along at a good 
 rate, that there seemed to be a gradual slacking in 
 the progress. 
 
 " I wonder what Washington is slowing down 
 for," said the professor rising from the dinner 
 table at which all save the colored man had been 
 sitting. " I told him to keep right on. He must 
 have seen something ahead. I'll take a look." 
 
 The inventor went to the conning tower, where 
 Washington was stearing. 
 
 " What are you stopping for? " he asked. 
 
 " I'm not slowin' down," replied the colored 
 man. " Guess another ob dem debil fishes has 
 grabbed holt ob de ship. Dey suttinly am de most 
 koslostrous conglomerations ob inconsequence dat 
 I eber see." 
 
 ' You must keep your big words for another 
 time," remarked Mr. Henderson, who seemed wor- 
 ried. " Hurry to the engine-room and see if the 
 machinery is all right. We certainly are slowing 
 down, from some cause or other." 
 
 The Porpoise was now scarcely moving, though 
 from the vibration it was evident that the engines 
 were working almost at top speed. Washington 
 came back and reported that the big screw was re-
 
 volving properly and that all the machinery was 
 working well. 
 
 " Then we're caught in something," said the 
 professor. " Shut off the power, Washington, I 
 don't want to strain things." 
 
 The ship was now scarcely making a foot a 
 minute, and, a little later, when the colored man 
 had turned off the engine, the submarine became 
 stationary, merely undulating with the roll and 
 heave of the ocean. 
 
 Hurrying to the cabin, Captain Henderson 
 opened the side window shutters, turned off the 
 electric lights and peered out. 
 
 " I can't see anything," he said. " Yet I 
 should be able to, as we are not very deep." 
 
 The gage showed that the ship was submerged 
 only thirty feet, and at that depth there should 
 have been no difficulty in seeing, at least dimly, 
 objects under water. But the windows showed as 
 black as night. 
 
 " Bring me one of the portable searchlights," 
 called Mr. Henderson. 
 
 Washington brought one, operated by a storage 
 battery. Holding it so the reflector cast the beams 
 out of the bull's-eye and into the water on the op- 
 posite side, the inventor peered forth. 
 
 " I was afraid of this! " he murmured. 
 
 ''What is it?" asked Jack.
 
 CAUGHT IN A SEA OF GRASS 89 
 
 " We are caught in the Sargasso Sea," replied 
 Mr. Henderson. 
 
 "The Sargasso Sea?" repeated Mark, in a 
 questioning tone. "What is that?" 
 
 " It is a great sea of grass," replied the captain. 
 " An immense ocean of sea weed, that sometimes 
 floats on the surface and sometimes a little below. 
 The stalks or blades of the grass are very long and 
 closely matted together." 
 
 " Is there any danger? " asked Andy in some 
 alarm. 
 
 " Very much," answered the professor quietly. 
 " A ship, once fairly entangled in the grass or sea 
 weed, seldom gets out. If it is a sailing ship the 
 weed clings to the rudder, making steerage impos- 
 sible, and even in a strong wind the ship cannot get 
 free of the mass. The grass winds about the pro- 
 pellors of steamships, and holds them as tight as 
 in a vise. 
 
 " Sometimes a great storm may tear the mass of 
 weed loose from the bottom of the ocean, and then 
 the ship is free. But the Sargasso Sea is the grave- 
 yard of many a fine vessel." 
 
 The pumps were set going. Anxiously every- 
 one watched the gage. The pointer never moved, 
 but remained at thirty feet. The Porpoise was 
 caught. 
 
 4 Well, since we can't go up, let us see if we
 
 go 
 
 can go down," said the inventor. " Perhaps we 
 can dive under the sea weed." 
 
 The cocks of the tanks were opened and the 
 water rushed in. Under the weight of it the ship 
 should have sunk to the bottom. Instead it re- 
 mained just where it was, thirty feet below the sur- 
 face. 
 
 " Try the screw again," suggested Andy, 
 " Maybe we can back out." 
 
 The big propeller in the tube was started going 
 in a reverse direction, but the Porpoise only moved 
 a few feet and then stopped. To go forward was 
 equally impossible. 
 
 The submarine was held fast in the grip of the 
 long, sinuous, snake-like fingers of the terrible sea 
 grass. Weak as one strand was, the thousands 
 combined served to fasten the ship as securely as 
 wire cables would have done. The weeds had en- 
 tangled themselves all around the craft and refused 
 to let go. 
 
 " Well," remarked Mr. Henderson when all ef- 
 forts had failed. " We must think of a new 
 plan." 
 
 He spoke cheerfully, for he did not want the 
 boys and other members of the crew to know how 
 worried he was. This was a danger he had neve 
 counted on when he planned to go to the south 
 pole. 
 
 :
 
 CAUGHT IN A SEA OF GRASS 91 
 
 " There is no great hurry," Mr. Henderson 
 went on in a few minutes. " We can stay here for 
 several days if need be, and by that time a storm 
 may tear the grass loose." 
 
 " If we had our old hay sythes here," spoke 
 Bill, " me an' Tom could put on divin' suits an' 
 go out an' cut the sea weed." 
 
 " I'm afraid that wouldn't work," answered 
 Mr. Henderson. " I'll think up some plan, soon." 
 
 He started toward the engine room to look over 
 the machinery. He was met by Washington, who 
 seemed much alarmed. 
 
 14 What's the matter? " asked the inventor. 
 
 " De air tank hab busted an' all de air is es- 
 capin' out ! " cried the colored man. " We'll all 
 smothercate ! "
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 FIRE ON BOARD 
 
 THE professor jumped past Washington and 
 hurried into the room where the tanks were kept, 
 carrying the reserve supply of air for breathing 
 when the ship was under water. A loud hissing 
 told that the leak was a large one. 
 
 44 Quick ! Bring me some tools and a steel 
 plug," shouted the captain. 
 
 Mark hurried in with the things the professor 
 wanted. But before the plug could be put in the 
 hole the air stopped hissing. 
 
 44 The leak is fixed! " cried Jack. 
 
 " No," said the professor in a strange voice. 
 
 44 But the air no longer rushes out." 
 
 44 For a good reason, there is no longer any air 
 to rush out. It is all gone ! " 
 
 44 Do you mean to say that all the reserve stock 
 has been lost?" exclaimed Andy. 
 
 44 1 fear so. The leak must have been a bad 
 one. The air was stored in tanks under pressure, 
 and, as you know, we released it as we needed it. 
 Now it is all gone." 
 
 Q2
 
 FIRE ON BOARD 93 
 
 " All ? Then we shall smother," said Jack, and 
 his voice trembled. 
 
 " Not at once," went on Mr. Henderson in a 
 calm voice. ' There is enough air in the entire 
 ship, including that which has leaked from the 
 tanks to last us five hours. After that " he 
 paused and looked at his watch. 
 
 " Well? " asked Andy. " After that? " 
 ' There is enough stored in the small tanks of 
 the diving suits to last another two hours, perhaps. 
 Seven hours in all." 
 
 " Then what? " asked Mark. 
 
 " We shall smother to death," said the pro- 
 fessor in a low tone. " That is," he went on, 
 " unless before that time we can raise the Porpoise 
 to the surface of the sea and get a fresh supply 
 of air." 
 
 " Then we must work to raise the ship," put in 
 Bill. " Let' get out and see if we can't cut through 
 the sea weed." 
 
 " It would be useless," said IVir. Henderson. 
 " We can only depend on the power of the ship 
 herself. But do not be discouraged. We may 
 escape. Come, Washington, start the engine 
 again. By keeping it going constantly we can, 
 perhaps, break loose from the grass. It is our 
 only hope." 
 
 Steadily the machinery worked. It might as
 
 94 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 well have remained stationary, however, as far as 
 any noticeable effect was made on the boat's pro- 
 gress. The grass of the Sargasso Sea held the 
 Porpoise in a firm grasp. 
 
 Four hours passed. There was nothing to do 
 but wait and see what would happen. It all de- 
 pended on the engines. Silently the navigators 
 of the realms under the ocean sat and hoped. 
 Now and then the professor would go to the engine 
 room to adjust the machines. 
 
 The atmosphere in the cabin was growing no- 
 ticeably heavier. The boys' heads began to ring 
 with strange noises, and there was a tightness across 
 their chests. The lack of fresh air was beginning 
 to tell. 
 
 " We might as well use that in the diving suit 
 reservoirs," remarked the professor. " We will 
 feel better, at least for a little while." 
 
 The helmets of the suits were brought in, and 
 the vapor released from the small tanks. A 
 change was at once noticed. The old stale air 
 in the cabin was forced out of the exhaust pipes, 
 and the fresh took its place. Every one felt bet- 
 ter. 
 
 Faster and faster revolved the big screw. The 
 ship vibrated more and more. Yet it did not 
 move, nor did it rise. The crew were still prison- 
 ers beneath the water.
 
 FIRE ON BOARD 95 
 
 For an hour or so conditions were fairly com- 
 fortable. Then the same unpleasantness was ex- 
 perienced as was noticed before. 
 
 "If we could only open a window," sighed 
 Mark, " and let in a lot of fresh air, how nice 
 it would be." 
 
 The air rapidly became more foul. Soon Wash- 
 ington was gasping for breath. Tom and Bill 
 showed signs of uneasiness. 
 
 " Lie down on the floor," counseled the pro- 
 fessor. " You will find the air a little fresher 
 down there." 
 
 They all did as he advised, the inventor him- 
 self stretching out at full length. A little relief 
 was experienced. 
 
 They knew it could not last long. Even the 
 professor seemed to have given up hope. The 
 engine was not going to free the ship in time to 
 save the lives of those on board. 
 
 Washington crawled to the engine room, as some 
 of the bearings needed oiling. The professor 
 seemed in despair. He opened one of the slides 
 that covered the glass bulls eye windows. Then 
 he turned off the electric lights. The opening was 
 black, showing that the sea of grass still sur- 
 rounded them. With a groan Mr. Henderson 
 turned aside. The last hope was gone. He sank 
 down on the floor of the darkened cabin.
 
 96 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 Just then Mark happened to look at the bulls- 
 eye. He saw a glimmer of light. Then he 
 noticed several fishes swimming about. The water 
 was clear. The grass had disappeared from the 
 vicinity of the window. 
 
 " Look! " cried Mark to the professor. 
 
 The inventor peered forth. As he did so he 
 uttered a cry. Then he staggered rather than ran 
 to the engine room. 
 
 " What are you doing? " he called to Washing- 
 ton. 
 
 " I jest let some ob de sulphuric acid out ob de 
 storage battery tank," replied the colored man. 
 
 "That's it! That's it!" exclaimed the pro- 
 fessor. " Quick, let some more out, Washington. 
 Let out all there is in that tank. It will save our 
 lives." 
 
 Wonderingly Washington obeyed. The air in 
 the ship was growing more foul every second. It 
 was hard to breathe even on the floor, and all were 
 gasping for breath. A few minutes more and 
 they would all become unconscious and death would 
 come in a little while if the air was not freshened. 
 
 The professor staggered back to the main cabin. 
 He looked out of the bull's-eye windows. Then 
 he exclaimed: 
 
 " See, it is getting lighter! Thank Heaven we 
 are saved ! "
 
 FIRE ON BOARD 97 
 
 The next instant the ship began to move back- 
 ward. Then with increasing speed it pulled out of 
 the grip of the long grass, and in another minute 
 was floating on top of the water, at the edge of 
 the Sargasso Sea. 
 
 "Quick! Open the man hole cover 1" said 
 Amos Henderson. 
 
 Washington threw back the lever cams, and in 
 rushed the fresh air. It was a blessed relief from 
 the terrible oppressiveness of the foul atmosphere 
 of the boat. They all breathed deeply, and, in a 
 few minutes the effects of their long imprisonment 
 had passed off. 
 
 They went out on the small deck. It was get- 
 ting dusk, and the reflection of the red sunset shone 
 brightly on the heaving water. 
 
 " I 'spected I'd neber see dis again," said Wash- 
 ington. " Thought suah I was a gone chicken! " 
 
 " We had a most fortunate escape," said the 
 professor. " You did the trick for us when you 
 let the acid run from that tank into the sea. It 
 mingled with the water and burned or ate through 
 the stems of the grass so they no longer held the 
 ship. I saw what had happened as soon as I 
 looked out of the bull's-eye, and that's why I had 
 you turn out all the acid you could. It was just 
 as if liquid fire had touched the sea weed and 
 burnt it off."
 
 98 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 " Golly ! " exclaimed Washington. " Fust I 
 know I'll be a perfessor myself ! " 
 
 Supper was eaten with the ship on the surface 
 of the ocean, for it was impossible to go below 
 until the leak in the air tanks had been repaired. 
 Work was begun on this the next day, and though 
 it proved a difficult job it was accomplished by 
 Mr. Henderson and the boys. 
 
 There were several minor repairs to be made to 
 the machinery, and it was a week before all was 
 in readiness for another descent beneath the waves. 
 In the meanwhile the craft had moved slowly south- 
 ward on the surface, where no very great speed was 
 possible. 
 
 Toward evening, on the seventh day after their 
 adventure with the Sargasso Sea, the travelers 
 closed the man hole, and with air tanks well filled 
 slowly sank beneath the waves. Supper was eaten 
 at a depth of sixty feet, and after the meal, while 
 Washington was washing the dishes, the others sat 
 and looked out through the bull's-eyes at the big 
 fishes which floated past. 
 
 " I wouldn't like to catch one of them air things 
 on my hook an' line," observed Bill, as a par- 
 ticularly large fish went past. " I reckon I'd have 
 trouble landin' him." 
 
 " More likely he'd pull you in," said Mark. 
 
 For several minutes they watched the strange
 
 FIRE ON BOARD 99 
 
 procession of deep-sea life. Presently Jack, who 
 was sitting near the engine room door, sprang up. 
 At the same instant there was the sound of an 
 explosion. 
 
 "What's the matter?" cried the professor. 
 
 " Come quick! " yelled Washington. 
 
 " It's a fire ! " yelled Jack. " One of the elec- 
 trical fuses has blown out, and the ship is on 
 fire!"
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 THE GHOST OF THE SUBMARINE 
 
 THEY all rushed toward the engine room. It 
 was dark, because the lights had gone out all over 
 the ship, and they could see only by the glare of 
 the flames, which were increasing. 
 
 " Light one of the oil lanterns ! " called the pro- 
 fessor, and Bill did so. 
 
 " Unreel the hose," the inventor continued, and 
 Mark and Jack ran to do this. 
 
 In a few minutes the line was stretched into the 
 engine room, and water was being thrown on the 
 flames, for Washington had started the pump as 
 soon as he saw the conflagration. 
 
 The fire was in one corner, hear the electrical 
 switch board, and had been caused by the blowing 
 out of one of the fuses, which occasioned the little 
 explosion. The wood work near the switches was 
 blazing fiercely, and soon the ship was filled with 
 smoke. 
 
 " Empty the ballast tanks ! " called the pro- 
 fessor. " We must rise to the surface ! " 
 
 " We'll all be burned up ! " cried Tom. " First 
 
 IOO
 
 THE GHOST OF THE SUBMARINE 101 
 
 we nearly smother and then we get on fire. Neber 
 saw such luck! " 
 
 With a rush the Porpoise began to rise, as her 
 canks were lightened. With steady hands, though 
 with fear in their hearts, Jack and Mark continued 
 to play the water on the flames, while the professor 
 and Washington got out a second line and aided 
 them. 
 
 ' The fire is dying out I " exclaimed Mr. Hen- 
 derson. " We'll soon get the best of it." 
 
 In five minutes the worst was over, though it 
 had been an anxious time, and one of danger. The 
 ship came to the surface, and the open man-hole 
 let out the thick smoke that had nearly suffocated 
 the travelers. 
 
 As soon as it was cool enough in the engine 
 room an examination was made of the damage 
 done. It was not as bad as the professor had 
 feared, and the running part of the ship was not 
 harmed. A new fuse was put in and the electric 
 lights turned on. 
 
 The night was spent with the ship floating on 
 the surface of the ocean, only enough speed being 
 kept up to give her steerage way. The professor 
 did not want to go below the waves until he had 
 repaired the switch board. 
 
 Watch was kept, for, though they were out of 
 the regular line of ocean travel, there was no
 
 102 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 telling when a vessel might come along and run 
 them down, for the Porpoise did not show above 
 the waves more than a few feet, and carried no 
 lights. 
 
 Mark had the watch just after midnight, and 
 was sitting in the conning tower, the door of which 
 opened out on the small deck. He had swept the 
 surface of the water with powerful glasses and 
 was sure there were no ships in sight. So, feeling 
 that he would like to stretch his legs, he walked 
 up and down on the platform. 
 
 He had reached the after end, and was about 
 to turn and go back, when he was startled to see 
 between him and the conning tower a white ob- 
 ject. At first Mark thought it was a cloud of 
 mist, or something the matter with his eyes. He 
 rubbed them, but the object did not disappear. 
 
 Then it moved, and, to his horror Mark saw 
 that it had the shape of a man, tall and thin. 
 The two arms were outstretched, and to Mark's 
 imagination seemed to be pointed toward him. 
 
 In spite of trying not to be, Mark was fright- 
 ened. 
 
 He did not believe in ghosts, and had always 
 felt that all stories about them were due to persons' 
 imaginations. Now he saw something that was 
 hard to explain. 
 
 As he watched it, the white object turned and
 
 THE GHOST OF THE SUBMARINE 103 
 
 glided without making the slightest noise, toward 
 the conning tower. It entered and Mark breathed 
 a sigh of relief. 
 
 Perhaps, after all, it was some one from down 
 in the cabin, maybe the professor himself in his 
 night shirt, who had come up to see that all was 
 right. 
 
 " I'll go and look," said Mark to himself. 
 
 He had to nerve himself for the ordeal, as, in 
 spite of assuring himself that there were no such 
 things as ghosts, he was frightened. 
 
 It was absolutely quiet. The only sound was 
 the gentle swish of the water against the sides of 
 the ship. The engine was running so slowly that 
 it caused no noise. 
 
 Half way on his journey to the conning tower 
 Mark paused. There, advancing toward him, was 
 the white object. With outstretched arms it 
 glided nearer and nearer until Mark's heart was 
 beating as if it would burst through his ribs. His 
 mouth was dry and he could not have cried out 
 had he tried. 
 
 There was a splash in the water off to the left 
 as some big fish sprang out and dropped back 
 again. Involuntarily Mark turned in that direc- 
 tion. Then he thought of the ghost and looked 
 for it again. To his surprise the white object was 
 nowhere to be seen!
 
 104 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 The boy waited a few minutes, and then, screw- 
 ing up his courage, he went to the tower. There 
 was no one inside, and, along the length of deck 
 nothing was to be seen of the ghost. 
 
 " I wonder if I have been asleep and dreaming," 
 the boy asked himself. He gave his leg a pinch, 
 and the sensation of pain told him he was not 
 slumbering. 
 
 " Well, I'll say nothing about it," Mark went 
 on to himself. " They'll only laugh at me." 
 
 Entering the tower Mark looked for the glasses 
 in order to make another observation. He could 
 not find them, yet he was sure he had left them 
 on a shelf in the tower. 
 
 " I wonder if the ghost took them," he said. 
 
 He heard some one coming up the iron stairs 
 of the small companionway that led down into 
 the interior of the ship through the man-hole. 
 At first he thought it was his queer midnight visitor 
 returning. Then the head and shoulders of Jack 
 appeared. 
 
 " I've come to relieve you," said Jack. " Your 
 watch is up; it's two o'clock. Here are the night 
 glasses. I found them on the cabin table. I 
 thought you had them with you." 
 
 " I did," replied Mark. 
 
 " Then how did they get below? " 
 
 "I ! don't know," said Mark.
 
 THE GHOST OF THE SUBMARINE 105 
 
 The mystery was deepening, yet he did not 
 want to tell Jack just yet. 
 
 " Well, that's queer," remarked Jack. " May- 
 be the captain came up and got them while you 
 were asleep." 
 
 " I didn't go to sleep," answered Mark rather 
 crossly. 
 
 Jack said nothing more, but took his place in 
 the conning tower, while Mark went below. 
 Thinking to discover if the ghost might by any 
 chance have been one of the persons on the Por- 
 poise, Mark looked into each bunk. From the 
 captain to Washington, all the inmates were peace- 
 fully slumbering. 
 
 " Queer," murmured Jack, as he took a look into 
 the engine room before turning in. The engine 
 needed no attention, as it worked automatically, 
 and all there was to do was to steer the ship. 
 Even this needed little care as the course was a 
 straight one, and the wheel could be locked, leav- 
 ing the lookout little to do. 
 
 " Did you see anything during your watch ? " 
 asked Mark of Jack the next morning. 
 
 " See anything? What do you mean? " 
 
 " I mean anything unusual." 
 
 " Nothing only a school of porpoises went past 
 and gave me a little scare. They were like a lot 
 of water kittens at play."
 
 106 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 Mark concluded he would say nothing of the 
 white visitor until he ascertained whether any one 
 else had seen it. 
 
 It was several nights later, when the ship was 
 once more proceeding slowly along the surface of 
 the water, that the ghost again appeared. This 
 time Washington had the midnight watch. 
 
 But the colored man was not one to remain 
 quiet when he had such a scary visitor, and his 
 yells aroused the ship. 
 
 " It's a ghostess ! A big white ghostess ! " 
 yelled Washington. " I don seen it wid my eyes, 
 an' it waved his arms at me. I's goin' to die 
 suah!" 
 
 " What's all this nonsense? " demanded the pro- 
 fessor sternly. Then Washington, more or less 
 excitedly, told of what he had seen. It was just 
 as it had happened to Mark. 
 
 ' You were dreaming," said the professor to 
 Washington. " There are no such things as 
 ghosts." 
 
 Every one, from old Andy to Tom and Bill, 
 had been roused by Washington's cries, and 
 listened to his story. At the close of the recital 
 of how the white thing had suddenly disappeared, 
 Washington refused to continue his watch, unless 
 some one stayed with him. 
 
 Mark volunteered to do this. He was anxious
 
 THE GHOST OF THE SUBMARINE 107 
 
 to see if the ghost would reappear to him. But 
 nothing happened ; and the rest of the night passed 
 off quietly. 
 
 The next day the Porpoise was taken below the 
 surface, in order to allow of better speed being 
 made. She was running along, submerged to a 
 depth of two hundred feet, when there came a sud- 
 den jar, and the ship stopped. 
 
 " More trouble ! " exclaimed the professor. 
 
 He opened the slide covering the bull's-eye win- 
 dows and looked out. All about was swirling 
 muddy water. 
 
 " Can you see anything? " the inventor called to 
 Jack, who was in the conning tower. 
 
 ' We've run into a mud-bank, and are stuck 
 fast," called back the boy.
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 
 DIGGING OUT THE SHIP 
 
 " REVERSE the engine ! " called the professor. 
 " Maybe we can back the ship out." 
 
 Washington set the big screw to revolving in the 
 opposite direction. The Porpoise shock and 
 shivered but the mud held her fast. 
 
 " We must have gone in pretty deep," com- 
 mented Amos Henderson. " Luckily it was soft 
 mud instead of a rocky reef or we'd have damaged 
 the ship beyond repair." 
 
 For several minutes the engines were kept on the 
 reverse, but all to no purpose. The sticky mud 
 was like glue in its holding power and the ship had 
 buried her prow deep into it. 
 
 " I guess we'll have to dig our way out," said 
 the professor, after taking a careful view of the 
 big mud bank from the conning tower. " Wash- 
 ington, get out the diving suits and the spades." 
 
 " Are we really going out in the water to dig? " 
 asked Tom. 
 
 " Of course," said Mr. Henderson. " You'll 
 be as safe as in the ship, wearing one of my diving 
 
 108
 
 DIGGING OUT THE SHIP 109 
 
 suits. We'll all have to help, for it will be quite a 
 task." 
 
 The queer suits were brought out, and the reser- 
 voirs in the helmets were filled with compressed 
 air. It was decided to have Washington remain 
 within the Porpoise, to watch the machinery and 
 start the engine when the digging was partly done, 
 in order to see if the ship would not pull herself 
 free when some of the mud had been removed 
 from the prow. 
 
 " And we may need Washington for another 
 purpose," said the professor. 
 
 "What for?" asked Mark. 
 
 " Well, he'll have to stay by the diving tank, to 
 let us in quickly in case of emergency." 
 
 "Do you think there'll be an emergency?" 
 asked Jack. 
 
 " You never can tell," was the answer. ' We 
 are in deep water, and I don't want any accidents 
 to happen." 
 
 In a few minutes all save Washington were in 
 their diving suits and ready to go out and walk 
 on the bottom of the sea. They entered the tank, 
 the door was closed, and then water was slowly ad- 
 mitted from the ocean. When the tank was full, 
 led by the professor, they stepped out on the 
 muddy floor of the ocean. 
 
 At first the pressure of the water at so great a
 
 j io THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 depth bothered them. But, as we know, the div- 
 ing suits were reinforced with plates of steel, and 
 so strong that little more than an extra weight 
 of water was noticed. They soon became used to 
 it. Each one carried a spade, while the profes- 
 sor, Andy and the boys each had, slung about their 
 necks by straps, one of the electric guns. 
 
 Cautiously they walked toward the big mud 
 bank. They had to go slowly because of the 
 weight of the water above them, and because they 
 might at any minute step into some muck hole 
 and sink down. Fortunately, however, they 
 found there was a firm bottom right up to where 
 the bank of mud reared upward. 
 
 Turning on the electric lights in their helmets, 
 the voyagers were able to see quite distinctly. 
 The Porpoise had rammed her nose into the under- 
 water hill for a distance of about ten feet. It was 
 going to be no easy matter to get her free, but 
 the divers lost no time. 
 
 Vigorously they attacked the big hill of mud. 
 They dug their spades in and tossed the earth to 
 one side. It was a strange place to work. At 
 first the weight of water hampered every one, but 
 they soon became used to it and were able to pro- 
 ceed more rapidly. 
 
 From the conning tower Washington kept 
 watch of their progress. When they had gone in
 
 DIGGING OUT THE SHIP 
 
 about five feet he started the engines, hoping the 
 Porpoise might now pull herself free. But the 
 mud still held. 
 
 By signs, for it was of course impossible for 
 any one to hear or speak, attired as they were in 
 helmets and suits, the professor motioned that they 
 must dig deeper. 
 
 Once more they attacked the big mud bank with 
 their shovels. Farther and farther they went into 
 the muck until it seemed that the nose of the sub- 
 marine must be free. But when Washington 
 started the engines it was obvious that the ship was 
 still held. 
 
 Again the digging was resumed. All at once, 
 while every one was wielding his spade to best 
 advantage, a shadow seemed to cover the water. 
 It loomed up large and black, and the professor 
 stopped and gazed upward. What he saw made 
 him drop his spade and grab the gun that was 
 about his neck. 
 
 Floating in the water above the diggers, were 
 three immense sharks. Their cruel mouths were 
 partly open, showing three rows of big teeth, and 
 they were slowly turning over on their backs to 
 make a sudden rush and devour the men and boys. 
 Owing to the peculiar shape of its maw a shark 
 can not bite until it turns over. 
 
 The professor motioned for Bill and Tom to
 
 112 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 move behind him, and signalled for Jack, Mark 
 and Andy to stand close with their weapons ready. 
 
 The sharks floated lazily downward as if they 
 knew they had the diggers at their mercy. To 
 run and escape was impossible, for no one could 
 run hampered by the weight of water and his div- 
 ing suit. 
 
 One of the terrible fish opened its mouth wider 
 and, with a flirt of its tail aimed straight for the 
 professor. Mr. Henderson raised his gun, and 
 took careful aim at the middle of the fish, half 
 turned over. Unerringly the electric bullet sped 
 on its way. It entered the soft under part of the 
 shark, and immediately the thing struggled in its 
 death agony. 
 
 The water was dyed with blood. At the same 
 instant the other sharks rushed forward in a swirl 
 of foam. The boys and Andy fired as best they 
 could, and must have hit one of the creatures for 
 there was a greater commotion. 
 
 But the fight was not over. Instantly the ocean 
 seemed alive with the giant fish. Attracted by the 
 blood of the killed ones, scores of the tigers of the 
 seas rushed toward the scene of combat making 
 matters livelier than ever. 
 
 The professor, the boys and Andy fired their 
 guns at random. Redder and more red became 
 the water until their helmet lamps barely glowed
 
 DIGGING OUT THE SHIP 113 
 
 in the crimson sea. It seemed that a whole army 
 of the voracious sharks had attacked them. 
 
 The professor realized that to stay and attempt 
 to fight all the sharks in that part of the ocean 
 was impossible. He motioned for the boys and 
 Andy to follow him. Then he slowly led the way 
 back to the ship. 
 
 But the sharks were not to be gotten rid of so 
 easily. Several of the largest followed the dig- 
 gers, their horrible eyes, and big mouths with rows 
 of cruel teeth, striking terror to the hearts of all. 
 
 One of the creatures made a rush for Bill and 
 Tom who were close together. Either or both of 
 the men would have been bitten in twain, in spite 
 of the protection of their diving suits, had not 
 Mark, with a snap shot, killed the fierce fish. 
 
 It was now a running fight, and yet not so much 
 that, because to run was impossible. However, 
 they hurried all they could, and, by dint of quick 
 firing kept the ugly creatures at bay until the side 
 of the ship, where the diving tank was placed, was 
 reached. 
 
 The professor stepped to one side, and motioned 
 for the others to proceed him in entering. Lit- 
 tle time was lost. As Bill, the last one in, stepped 
 past the steel door the inventor attempted to en- 
 ter. To do so he had to let go of his gun. 
 
 Instantly one of the sharks made a rush for the
 
 ii 4 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 old man. But Andy was on the watch. He 
 leaned forward, and, from his weapon sent a bullet 
 straight down the throat of the monster. The 
 electric missile did its work well, and the lifeless 
 body of the shark was devoured by the others of 
 its tribe. 
 
 The professor pulled the door shut behind him. 
 Then he set the pump to work to empty the tank. 
 As he did so there was a tremor to the ship. 
 What could it mean ? 
 
 In a few minutes the tank was empty and the 
 divers stepped out into the ship, freed from the 
 oppressive weight of water. The ship continued 
 to vibrate and seemed to be in motion. 
 
 " What is it? " asked Mark as soon as he had 
 his helmet off. 
 
 " De ship am free ! WVve got off de mud 
 bank!" exclaimed Washington, running in from 
 the engine room. 
 
 It was true. Enough had been dug so that, 
 with the power of the screw working backward, 
 there was sufficient force to pull the Porpoise from 
 her perilous position. 
 
 " Empty the tanks and rise to the surface," said 
 the professor. 
 
 In a few minutes the ship was on top of the 
 waves, the adventurers freed from the double dan- 
 ger of the mud and sharks. They congratulated
 
 DIGGING OUT THE SHIP 115 
 
 each other on the good outcome of the fight with 
 the monster fishes. 
 
 Weaned with their labors and the battle under 
 the waves, the travelers sat up on the deck breath- 
 ing in the fresh breeze. Then, after a while, sup- 
 per was made ready and eaten with good appetites. 
 
 It was decided hereafter to sail along near the 
 surface at night, and not to submerge the ship 
 deeply save during daylight, when it was easier 
 to distinguish objects under the water. 
 
 Following this plan the Porpoise steamed along 
 just awash that night, and the next day was sent 
 down about fifty feet below the surface. 
 
 One afternoon, when the travelers were resting, 
 having partaken of a fine meal, the professor went 
 on deck to make some observations, the ship having 
 been raised for that purpose. He came down, 
 somewhat excited. 
 
 " Well, we're half way to the pole," he an- 
 nounced. 
 
 " How can you tell? " asked Mark. 
 
 " Because we have just crossed the equator. 
 We went over the imaginary line three minutes 
 ago." 
 
 " I was wondering what made it so warm," 
 said Jack. 
 
 " I guess you dreamed it was hotter," spoke the 
 professor. " It has been just as hot as this for
 
 ii6 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 the last few days. Crossing the line makes no dif- 
 ference." 
 
 " Then we are really in the southern hemisphere 
 now," said Mark. 
 
 " That's where we are," replied Mr. Hender- 
 son. 
 
 He put his instruments away. 
 
 " Well, we may as well go below the surface 
 again," he remarked. 
 
 " Come quick! Hurry up! " yelled Washing- 
 ton from the deck. " Dar's a shipwreck up heah ! 
 Somebody's on it ! "
 
 THE ELECTRIC BULLET SPED ON ITS WAY. Page 112.
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 
 THE STRANGE SHIPWRECK 
 
 THE professor, followed by the boys anct Tom, 
 Bill and Andy hastened on deck. They saw 
 Washington pointing excitedly off to the west. 
 There, rising and falling on the easy swell, was 
 the wreck of a large vessel. 
 
 She had been a three masted schooner, but now 
 only the stumps of the masts remained and the 
 craft was rolling to and fro. It had settled low 
 in the water, and was quite deep by the head, so 
 that, at times, the waves broke over the bow in a 
 shower of spray. 
 
 But what attracted the attention of the adven- 
 turers more than anything else was the sight of 
 two figures near what had been the after cabin 
 of the ship. 
 
 There they stood, frantically waving their hands 
 toward those on the submarine. Across the water 
 that separated the two craft, there came a faint 
 hail. 
 
 " I suppose they are nearly dead," exclaimed the 
 inventor. " We must save them." 
 
 117
 
 n8 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 He ordered the Porpoise sent ahead slowly 
 toward the wreck. The distance was about half 
 a mile, and was soon covered. As the submarine 
 approached closer those on the schooner could be 
 observed more plainly. 
 
 "One of 'em is a woman!" exclaimed Jack, 
 who was using the glasses. 
 
 " Let me see," spoke the professor. 
 
 "You're right," he added. "The other is a 
 little girl." 
 
 A few minutes later the Porpoise was alongside. 
 The woman and child came to the rail of the 
 schooner, which was barely five feet above the 
 waves. 
 
 " Can you jump down, or shall I come aboard 
 and get you?" asked Mr. Henderson seeing the 
 woman hesitate. 
 
 " I can jump down, if you will catch the child," 
 said the woman. " Oh I am so glad you came," 
 she added. " We are almost dead from hunger 
 and thirst, and the wreck is ready to sink and can- 
 not last many hours longer." 
 
 " Pass the little girl down to me," spoke Andy. 
 ' Then you jump. We'll save you all right." 
 
 The little girl reached the deck in safety, and 
 the woman, who proved to be her mother, fol- 
 lowed. 
 
 " Now take us to your ship," said the woman.
 
 THE STRANGE SHIPWRECK 119 
 
 <f You must be a long way from her, as she is not 
 in sight." 
 
 " Our ship is right here," spoke Mr. Henderson 
 with a smile. 
 
 " Where, I don't see her," and the woman 
 looked in all directions. 
 
 " Allow me to introduce you to Profess Amos 
 Henderson's famous submarine, the Porpoise," 
 spoke the inventor with a bow. " But come, let 
 us go below. You must be suffering, and here I 
 am making speeches." 
 
 " Indeed I am hungry, and thirsty too," said the 
 woman. " So is Nellie. But I thought this was 
 merely a small boat, sent from some large ship 
 to get us." 
 
 The woman and girl descended to the cabin of 
 the submarine, where Washington set before them 
 a fine meal. Under the advice of the professor 
 they partook sparingly of food and drink at first, 
 as, having eaten nothing in many hours, the in- 
 ventor said they must begin by taking a little at 
 a time. 
 
 As soon as they had finished and become some- 
 what rested, the woman told her story. She was 
 Mrs. Johnson, a widow, her husband having once 
 owned and been captain of the schooner that was 
 wrecked. After his death she and her daughter, 
 having become part owners of the craft, disposing
 
 120 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 of a third interest to the former mate of the ship, 
 had set out on one of the voyages to South Ameri- 
 can ports. 
 
 They had had good weather going, and took on 
 a valuable cargo of lumber and rare woods. But 
 the return trip was more perilous. Heavy storms 
 had buffeted the craft almost from the time of 
 leaving port, and in one heavy blow, ten days be- 
 fore, the ship had been wrecked. 
 
 " What became of the crew? " asked Mr. Hen- 
 derson. 
 
 " They took to the boats," replied Mrs. John- 
 son. " My little girl and myself were to go with 
 the mate and his men. The waves were fearfully 
 high, and, as they held the boat close to the 
 schooner so we could get in, a big roller smashed 
 the little craft. The men must have all been 
 drowned for I never afterwards caught sight of 
 one of them." 
 
 " But the other boats?" asked the inventor. 
 ' They had gotten too far away to hail, sup- 
 posing that I would be taken care of by the mate. 
 There was nothing for Nellie and I to do but stay 
 on board, expecting the ship to sink every minute." 
 
 "And you have been there ever since?" in- 
 quired Andy. 
 
 " Ever since. That was ten days ago. Every 
 day I thought it would be our last. The storm
 
 THE STRANGE SHIPWRECK 121 
 
 passed away and the sea became calm but the ship 
 kept settling lower and lower. Only the fact that 
 part of the cargo was wood kept her afloat so long. 
 I managed to get some provisions and water up on 
 deck, but the sea had spoiled most of the stuff. 
 We had to eat only a little at a time, as I knew 
 it would be some days before we could be rescued, 
 if we ever were. Two days ago we ate the last 
 of the food and drank almost the last of the 
 water." 
 
 " Then you had nothing since then," spoke 
 Jack. 
 
 " Only a few drops of rain that I caught on a 
 piece of sail," answered Mrs. Johnson. 
 
 " Never mind, you can have all you want now, 
 mother," said Nellie, coming over to pat her par- 
 ent's cheek. " Oh," the child went on, " I was so 
 thirsty I could just cry when I thought of such 
 things as ice cream sodas." 
 
 " I guess you could," agreed Mark. " Well, 
 we can't give you any soda water, but we have 
 plenty of the other kind." 
 
 Mrs. Johnson was much interested in the Por- 
 poise and Professor Henderson showed her all 
 about the craft. Though the quarters were rather 
 cramped, a small cabin was fitted up for the lady 
 and her daughter. 
 
 " We will travel a bit under the water so you
 
 122 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 can get used to it," said the captain after a tour of 
 the ship had been made. The tanks were filled, 
 and the Porpoise sank beneath the waves. At first 
 Mrs. Johnson was much frightened, and Nellie 
 cried. But when they saw how skillfully the ship 
 was managed, and how easy it was to rise again, 
 they lost their fears. 
 
 For several days the voyage was continued. 
 Mrs. Johnson and Nellie remained aboard as there 
 was no place to land them, and they said they 
 wished to stay until they met some ship sailing 
 north. 
 
 One day, just at dusk, when the Porpoise, after 
 a long run under the water had come to the sur- 
 face, the professor, came up on deck to take a 
 look around. Washington and Andy accompanied 
 him. 
 
 " Looks like land, off there to the left," re- 
 marked the old hunter. 
 
 " Get the glasses, Washington," said Mr. Hen- 
 derson. " It may be a ship." 
 
 He took a long and careful look through the 
 binoculars. 
 
 " It's some sort of land," he announced, 
 " We'll go over in the morning and see what it is. 
 Probably it's an island, for there's no main land in 
 these parts. We are in the middle of the south- 
 ern Atlantic now."
 
 THE STRANGE SHIPWRECK 123 
 
 The next morning, after breakfast, the Porpoise 
 was headed toward the dark spot on the surface 
 of the water that the professor had gazed at the 
 evening before. As they came nearer it was seen 
 that the place was a large island. 
 
 " But it's a mighty queer one," spoke Mr. Hen- 
 derson. " It looks more like a big volcano than 
 anything else." 
 
 As the ship came nearer it was seen that this was 
 true. The island rose abruptly from the surface 
 of the sea in a big ridge, slightly rounded. There 
 appeared to be no signs of life on the land, but in 
 the air overhead hovered several big birds. These 
 circled about and then fluttered down, seemingly 
 about the middle of the island. 
 
 " We'll sail around and see if there's a place to 
 land," spoke the inventor. " There doesn't seem 
 to be a good harbor on this side." 
 
 Slowly the Porpoise made the circuit. The 
 island appeared to be almost round. When they 
 had gone about half way around Andy, who was 
 staring ahead, cried out: 
 
 " Look out Professor! Don't go any nearer or 
 we'll be sucked into the whirlpool ! " 
 
 The inventor looked where the hunter pointed. 
 Then he beheld the strangest sight he had ever 
 seen. The island was low toward where Andy 
 pointed and they beheld the waters of the ocean
 
 124 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 pouring over the edge of it, and falling down into 
 an immense hole with a roar like that of Niagara 
 Falls. 
 
 " Reverse the ship! " cried Professor Hender- 
 son. " Send her back quickly, Washington, or 
 we'll be sucked down 1 " 
 
 The colored man lost no time, and the big screw 
 was sent whirling in the opposite direction. And 
 it was high time, for already the onward rush 
 of the falling waters was slowly drawing the ship 
 toward the big cavern. 
 
 " That was a lucky escape," commented Amos 
 Henderson. " Well, as we can't land there we'll 
 try the other way around." 
 
 The ship was headed in the opposite direction, 
 and, after an hour's sailing, a good harbor was 
 discovered. The Porpoise was anchored in shal- 
 low water close to the shore and in a small boat the 
 professor, Andy and the two boys went to the 
 strange island. 
 
 They found it merely an immense circle of land 
 with the middle part taken up by the big hole. 
 And such a hole as it was ! It was so wide across 
 that they could not see the farther side, and the 
 depth they could only guess at. Looking down 
 they could only see great rolling masses of clouds 
 or vapor. 
 
 " Perhaps it's steam," suggested Jack.
 
 THE STRANGE SHIPWRECK 125 
 
 " Maybe it is," agreed the professor. " If this 
 is a volcano, with lava in it, the water of the ocean, 
 pouring in on the other side, may be changed to 
 steam." 
 
 " Do you suppose this hole leads to the centre of 
 the earth? " asked Mark. " I've read somewhere 
 that the earth is hollow." 
 
 " Some scientists believe it," commented the pro- 
 fessor. " This looks like a big enough hole to 
 lead clear through to China. Hark, you can hear 
 the roar of the water now." 
 
 They listened, and the wind brought to them the 
 sound of the sea pouring down into the unfathom- 
 able depths. 
 
 " Let's throw a big rock down," suggested Jack. 
 " Maybe we can hear it strike bottom." 
 
 With the aid of Mark he cast a big boulder 
 down into the depths. They listened intently, but 
 not the slightest sound echoed back. 
 
 " I guess the bottom is too far away for you to 
 hear the stone land," said the professor.
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 
 THE GHOST AGAIN 
 
 THEY spent some time looking down into the 
 hole. The masses of vapor, or clouds, rolled and 
 swirled hundreds of feet below them, but never 
 broke sufficiently to allow of a clear sight. 
 
 " Well, we had better go back to the ship," re- 
 marked the professor. " We must continue our 
 voyage." 
 
 They were soon on the Porpoise and steaming 
 away from the strange island, the inventor decid- 
 ing to get far off out of the influence of the terrible 
 waterfall. 
 
 The night was, as usual, spent with the ship 
 slowly steaming ahead on the surface of the water. 
 It was getting on toward twelve o'clock and Wash- 
 ington had the watch. He was to be relieved by 
 Jack. 
 
 The latter had been awakened by the alarm 
 clock at the head of his bed, which time-piece he 
 had set to arouse him so that he might take Wash- 
 ington's place. Jack was just getting the sleep 
 
 126
 
 THE GHOST AGAIN #27 
 
 from his eyes by a vigorous rubbing when he heard 
 a loud yell. 
 
 " Land a' Massy ! " cried Washington from the 
 deck above. " I's goin' t' die suah I De ghostess 
 am after me ag'in I " 
 
 Without waiting to dress, Jack sprang up the 
 ladder and was soon out on the deck. He saw 
 Washington kneeling down in front of the conning 
 tower door while, at the after end of the deck, was 
 a mysterious white object; the same strange shape 
 mat had been observed before. 
 
 " I'm going to solve this puzzle ! " exclaimed 
 Jack to himself as he made a dive toward the object 
 in white. " This ghost business will have to 
 stop!" 
 
 But, unfortunately for his plans, his foot slipped 
 on the smooth steel deck, and he went down in a 
 heap. When he got up the ghost was nowhere to 
 be seen. 
 
 Washington, however, was still kneeling down 
 and praying to be spared from the attack of the 
 midnight visitor. Jack limped over to the colored 
 man. 
 
 " Keep still," said the boy. " It's gone now. 
 What was it, anyhow? " 
 
 " Some ghost from de grabeyard," replied 
 Washington. 
 
 " When did you see it first? " went on Jack.
 
 i 2 8 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 " 'Bout ten minutes ago," replied Washington. 
 
 " Well it's gone now," said Jack, though he had 
 to admit to himself that the affair was somewhat 
 puzzling. Professor Henderson had been awak- 
 ened by the yells of the colored man and came on 
 deck to see what the trouble was. He appeared 
 somewhat annoyed when Washington told him 
 what had happened. 
 
 " There are no ghosts ! " declared the inventor 
 in positive tones. 
 
 " You wouldn't say so, Perfessor, if you'd seen 
 him," spoke Washington. " He were all in white, 
 tall an' slim, an' big red eyes, an' a green nose, an' 
 fire comin' from his mouth an' " 
 
 " Nonsense," interrupted Jack. " It was noth- 
 ing but a white object, Professor Henderson. I 
 saw it." 
 
 " And what do you think it was ? " asked the in- 
 ventor. 
 
 "I I can hardly say," replied Jack. " Of 
 course I don't believe in ghosts, but this " 
 
 " It was probably a mist from the ocean," in- 
 terrupted the professor. " Don't let me hear any 
 more of it. Washington, go below. Your watch 
 is up and Jack will take charge. I don't believe 
 there will be any more ghosts." 
 
 Nor were there that night. The Porpoise 
 glided along, requiring little attention, and when
 
 THE GHOST AGAIN 129 
 
 morning broke was several miles nearer the south- 
 ern pole. 
 
 The journey was continued beneath the waves 
 and it was found much cooler under them than 
 upon the surface, for the ship was in the midst of 
 the equatorial heat. 
 
 About four o'clock in the afternoon, when all 
 was quiet aboard, there came a sudden yell from 
 the engine room. Washington's voice could be 
 heard calling for help. Then it died away in a 
 groan. 
 
 " Something has happened ! " called Jack. 
 ' Washington is in trouble." 
 
 He hurried toward where the machinery could 
 be heard buzzing. The professor, with Andy and 
 Mark followed. They expected to see the colored 
 man caught in some shaft or belt, but he was no- 
 where in sight. 
 
 " Perhaps he has fallen into the ocean," sug- 
 gested Mark. 
 
 " The engine room does not open into the sea," 
 answered the professor. 
 
 A deep groan came from some corner of the 
 engine room. 
 
 " There he is ! " cried Jack. 
 
 But a careful search failed to reveal Washing- 
 ton. Still he could be heard to groan at intervals. 
 Bill and Tom came and aided in the search, while
 
 I 3 o THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 Mrs. Johnson, who was worried at the unusual ac- 
 tivity, asked what the trouble was. 
 
 Captain Henderson did not tell her, for, as he 
 said afterward, he did not want any women faint- 
 ing away on his ship. At his request Mrs. John- 
 son went back to her cabin, and the hunt for Wash- 
 ington continued. 
 
 " Here he is! " cried Jack at last. 
 
 The boy had climbed up on a small ladder that 
 led to the big storage battery tanks. He had 
 looked down, and there, in the large metal box had 
 spied the colored man on the bottom. Washing- 
 ton was unconscious and breathing heavily. 
 
 " He has been overcome by the fumes of the 
 sulphuric acid!" exclaimed the professor. "We 
 must get him out quickly or he will die ! " 
 
 "I'll get him! "cried Andy. 
 
 The old hunter grabbed a small step ladder that 
 stood against the wall of the engine room. With 
 this on his shoulder he climbed up the steps which 
 led to the top of the storage battery tank. Then, 
 by means of his ladder, he descended inside. 
 
 He had to work quickly as the fumes were very 
 strong, but he managed to hoist Washington up so 
 that Bill and Tom, from outside, could take hold 
 of him. Then the colored man was carried out on 
 the deck, where the fresh air and some restoratives 
 the professor used soon revived him.
 
 THE GHOST M3AIK 
 
 " Is I dead," were Washington's first words, as 
 he sat up and looked about him. 
 
 " Not this time," replied the professor. " You 
 had a close call, though. How did it happen ? " 
 
 Washington explained that he started to clean 
 the battery tank, when he lost his balance and fell 
 in. He cried as he felt himself falling, but as soon 
 as he struck the bottom of the tank the fumes of 
 the chemicals made him unconscious. His deep 
 breathing, which had sounded like groans, alone 
 served to attract attention to his location. 
 
 In a little while Washington was all right save 
 for a slight weakness. Captain Henderson made 
 him go to his bunk, and ordered him to remain 
 there until morning. 
 
 During the excitement over Washington's mis- 
 hap all thought of steering the ship had been for- 
 gotten, and when Mr. Henderson went to the con- 
 ning tower about five o'clock he found that the 
 Porpoise was several points off her course and was 
 headed to the east instead of to the south. How 
 many miles out of her way the craft had steamed 
 could only be guessed, but as she had been going 
 wrong for nearly an hour, it must be quite a few 
 the inventor calculated. 
 
 However, he said, no great harm had been done. 
 Even this slight accident would not have happened 
 had not Bill, who was in the conning tower steer-
 
 I 3 2 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 ing, forgotten to put the automatic device in opera- 
 tion when he left the wheel to join in the search 
 for Washington. 
 
 " We'll soon make up the lost ground," said Mr. 
 Henderson. " Another week or ten days ought to 
 see us at the end of our journey." 
 
 "And what will we do when we get there?" 
 asked Jack. 
 
 " We will make some important geographical 
 and scientific observations," said the professor. 
 " Not only that, but we will have done something 
 that no living person has ever accomplished. We 
 reached the north pole, though we could not land 
 on the exact spot. Let us hope we will be more 
 successful regarding the south pole." 
 
 The professor set the ship on her course again. 
 Bill and Tom got supper in place of Washington, 
 while Mrs. Johnson helped set the table. 
 
 The meal was eaten, and then the inventor 
 started the ship toward the surface, following the 
 plan of not sailing beneath the waves after dark, 
 in order to avoid accidents. 
 
 The craft was making good speed ahead, with 
 the big screw revolving in the tunnel and spurting 
 the water from the rear, when there came a sud- 
 den jar, and everyone nearly toppled over from the 
 quick stopping of the Porpoise. At the same time 
 the forward end seemed to go up in the air.
 
 THE GHOST AGAIN 133 
 
 "What has happened? Are we sinking?" 
 cried Mrs. Johnson. 
 
 " I think we are going up," spoke the professor 
 in cool tones. 
 
 " In the air? " asked the lady. 
 
 " On the land," answered the inventor. " I 
 think we have struck shore and slid up on a 
 beach." 
 
 He ordered the engine stopped and hurried to 
 the conning tower to make an observation. He 
 turned on the searchlight and looked carefully at 
 what the beams showed. Then he came back to 
 the cabin. 
 
 " Well, what is it? " asked Mrs. Johnson. 
 
 " We have gone ashore, just as I supposed," 
 said Mr. Henderson. 
 
 " And whereabouts are we? " 
 
 " On the coast of South America." 
 
 "Near where?" 
 
 " Near Terra Del Fuego, the land of fire 1 "
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 
 ATTACKED BY SAVAGES 
 
 "ARE we in any danger?" asked Mrs. John- 
 son. 
 
 " I hope not," replied the captain. "If the 
 ship is not strained the rising tide will probably 
 float her safely, and we can continue our trip. We 
 will have to wait until morning to see, however." 
 
 " And if the ship is damaged? " 
 
 " We will have to do what we can. We will 
 hope for the best, madam." 
 
 The professor went on deck. His first opinion 
 of the accident was confirmed. The Porpoise, in 
 emerging from the waves, had slid well up on a 
 sandy shore, where she was held fast because the 
 tide was rapidly falling. It would be twelve hours 
 before there would be a chance of her floating 
 again. 
 
 The mishap had occurred because the ship had 
 gotten off her course when Washington's accident 
 occurred, and had not been set right in time. 
 
 However, as Mr. Henderson had said, there was 
 no particular danger, unless it was found that some 
 
 J34
 
 ATTACKED BY SAVAGES 135 
 
 of the plates had been strained, which might cause 
 a leak. 
 
 The night was passed with the nose of the 
 Porpoise well up on shore, and before morning, 
 as the tide continued to fall, more and more of the 
 craft became exposed until the whole steel body 
 rested on the sloping beach. 
 
 Jack was the first to awaken. He was up with 
 the sun, and went out on the deck to take a view of 
 the country he had often heard about. A stretch 
 of wild landscape met his eyes, and to the left and 
 right of the ship the waves were breaking on 
 jagged rocks. 
 
 " It's a good thing we didn't hit the rocks," 
 thought the youth. 
 
 Mark came up on deck, and the two boys looked 
 over the scene. It was a strange one. Beyond 
 the beach was a low level country, green in places, 
 with now and then a patch of what looked like 
 trees. 
 
 " And what are those brown spots moving 
 about?" asked Mark. 
 
 " I guess they are herds of cattle," replied Jack. 
 " You know South America is a great place for 
 them. 
 
 For half an hour the two lads gazed about. Ex- 
 cept for the stern of the Porpoise all of the craft 
 was now out of water, and one could have jumped
 
 i 3 6 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 from the low deck down to a mound of white 
 sand of the beach. 
 
 " Let's go ashore and take a run," suggested 
 Mark. " I've almost forgotten how to walk on 
 dry land." 
 
 " Go ahead," answered Jack. " I'm with you." 
 
 " All right." 
 
 The boys lost no time in getting down to the 
 beach. They found it hard and firm, and made 
 their way to the strip of grass-covered land lying 
 beyond. Up and down they wandered, finding 
 many curious and beautifully marked shells where 
 the waves had washed them. 
 
 Suddenly Jack gave a big jump and let out a 
 yell. 
 
 "What's the matter?" asked Mark. 
 
 " I thought I saw one of those cocoanuts move," 
 answered Jack, pointing to where several of the 
 big shaggy fruits lay under a tree from which they 
 had fallen. 
 
 " I guess you're right," spoke Mark. " I cer- 
 tainly saw one of them take a little side step. I 
 wonder what does it." 
 
 As the boys watched they were surprised, to see 
 one of the cocoanuts come toward them, apparently 
 advancing without any visible means of locomo- 
 tion. 
 
 " This is a queer country," remarked Jack, get-
 
 ATTACKED BY SAVAGES 137 
 
 ting ready to run in case the strangely moving 
 cocoanut might be a warning of danger. 
 
 " Look ! There's a whole lot of them moving," 
 cried Mark. 
 
 Sure enough a dozen or more of the nuts began 
 to advance toward the lads. The boys were not 
 so much afraid as they were surprised. But a few 
 seconds later the reason for the strange sight was 
 made plain. 
 
 As they looked they saw one of the nuts roll 
 down a little mound of sand. Then they noticed 
 that a big land crab was on the tiny hill and it 
 was evident that the nut had fallen from his claws. 
 
 " It's the crabs ! " exclaimed Mark. " I re- 
 member reading about them now. They come 
 ashore from the water where they live part of the 
 time and get the cocoanuts. Then they smash the 
 shells by pounding the nuts on a stone and eat the 
 white meat inside. They are called cocoanut 
 crabs." 
 
 " I was beginning to think we were in some en- 
 chanted land," spoke Jack. 
 
 " Well, it certainly looked queer," agreed Mark. 
 
 For some time the boys watched the strange 
 sight. Then they walked along the beach, seeing 
 several large star fish, and some big horse-shoe 
 crabs that had been stranded by the tide. 
 
 " Look at that immense turtK' " exclaimed
 
 i 3 8 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 Mark, as one of the creatures scuttled over the sand 
 toward the sea. " I'll bet she's been laying 
 
 tggs!" 
 
 " Perhaps so." 
 
 They made a rush for the tortoise but were not 
 quick enough, for she slid into the water and made 
 off. 
 
 " Here's her nest, anyhow," called Jack, as he 
 pointed to some eggs, thinly covered with sand. 
 " Let's go back and take them with us. I've heard 
 they are good eating." 
 
 Jack and Mark started to gather up as many 
 of the eggs as they could in their hats. While 
 they were thus engaged they heard a call from the 
 ship and looked up to see coming toward them, 
 all of the ship's company except Washington. 
 
 " I wonder if anything could have happened," 
 spoke Mark. 
 
 He and Jack dropped the eggs and started on a 
 run toward the stranded ship. They were reas- 
 sured, however, when they saw the professor wav- 
 ing his hand at them. When he got within hail- 
 ing distance the inventor called : 
 
 " It's all right, boys. We're just taking a little 
 walk, before breakfast, for an appetizer. It's been 
 some time since we were on land. Washington 
 says he'll have some fine fried ham for us in a 
 little while."
 
 ATTACKED BY SAVAGES 139 
 
 "And here are the eggs to go with it," spoke 
 Jack. 
 
 "Have you found a hen house?" asked Mr. 
 Henderson in some wonder. 
 
 " No, but we discovered a turtle, which is just 
 as good," replied Mark. The professor agreed 
 with him, and called for Washington to come and 
 get the eggs. 
 
 '* Wall I 'clare to goodness ! " exclaimed the col- 
 ored man as he gathered the product of the turtle 
 up in his cook's apron. " Dis suttinly am a queer 
 contraption of a country to find eggs growin' in 
 de sand." 
 
 He shuffled back to the ship, while the others 
 walked up and down on the beach. In about half 
 an hour the professor suggested that they return. 
 
 " Washington must have breakfast ready by 
 now," he said, " and I, for one, am hungry enough 
 to enjoy it." 
 
 They turned toward the stranded Porpoise but 
 no sooner had their eyes taken in the sweep of 
 the ocean that lay before them than they uttered 
 cries of fear. 
 
 Spreading out from the beach in a big half cir- 
 cle that enclosed within its curve the submarine, 
 were three score of canoes, each one filled with half 
 naked savages. 
 
 " The natives are going to attack the ship ! "
 
 140 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 cried the professor. " We must hurry back or we 
 are lost ! " 
 
 He started on the run, accompanied by the boys 
 and men. Mrs. Johnson and her daughter 
 brought up the rear. The adventurers had gone 
 from one misfortune into another. 
 
 At the top of their speed they approached the 
 stranded ship. The natives saw them coming and 
 the next instant hundreds of paddles broke the 
 waves into a .mass of sparkling water as the wily 
 savages urged their canoes swiftly toward the sub- 
 marine. 
 
 " If we can only reach it first we can hold them 
 off until the tide floats us, and then we can escape," 
 said the professor. 
 
 He increased his pace though the run was be- 
 gining to tell on his aged frame. The adventurers 
 were now within an eighth of a mile of the ship, 
 but the savages were closer, and had the advantage 
 of being able to make greater speed. The two 
 forces approached nearer and nearer. Finally the 
 first of the canoes reached the submerged end of 
 the Porpoise. 
 
 With wild shouts a score of the brown men 
 leaped from the boats and scrambled up the steel 
 sides. An instant later they were joined by sev- 
 eral canoe loads of their companions. They 
 swarmed up on the deck, and some peered down
 
 ATTACKED BY SAVAGES 141 
 
 the winding stairs that led to the interior of the 
 ship. 
 
 " Too late ! " cried the professor. " They have 
 captured the Porpoise! " 
 
 "But Washington is aboard!" shouted Jack. 
 
 As he spoke the colored man was seen clamber- 
 ing up out of the companion way. He gave one 
 look at the wild natives who swarmed over the ship, 
 and then, with a yell to be heard a long way off, 
 disappeared below. 
 
 The shouts and cries of the savages grew louder 
 and they seemed to be doing a sort of war dance. 
 
 " We must make one effort to drive them away," 
 said the professor in desperation. 
 
 " We haven't even a revolver," spoke Andy. 
 
 " Let's use stones," suggested Jack, grabbing up 
 a handful from the beach. 
 
 " Look out 1 " yelled Mark. " They are going 
 to shoot some arrows ! " 
 
 A second later a flight of the weapons filled the 
 air. Fortunately the natives were too far away 
 to permit the shots taking effect, but it showed that 
 they intend to fight and take possession of the 
 ship. 
 
 Even this did not frighten Mr. Henderson. 
 His vessel was more than life to him and he kept 
 on. Several arrows fell dangerously close and he 
 might have been hurt had not old Andy run after
 
 I 4 2 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 him and induced him to go farther up the beach 
 and out of harm's way. 
 
 " They will kill Washington! " cried Jack as he 
 thought of the colored man at the mercy of the 
 savages. 
 
 " There he comes ! " yelled Mark. 
 
 He pointed toward the ship and as they all 
 looked in that direction they saw the colored man 
 climbing out on the deck. Under one arm he bore 
 a long narrow box, and in the other hand he car- 
 ried one of the electric guns. 
 
 " He's goin' to fight 'em ! " exclaimed Andy. 
 " He's got a gun and he will show 'em what's 
 what!" 
 
 But Washington did not seem to have any such 
 intentions. With a yell that equalled the savage 
 cries of the natives, he sprang over the side of the 
 ship, onto the sand and ran toward the group of 
 adventurers. A flight of arrows followed him, but 
 he was not hit.
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 ON LAND 
 
 "WHY don't he shoot his gun at 'em?" de- 
 manded Andy, capering about on the sand. " He 
 could soon scare 'em off ! " 
 
 " I'm afraid Washington is too frightened to do 
 anything like that," answered Professor Hender- 
 son. " He is lucky to have escaped alive." 
 
 ' Wait until he gets here with that gun, an' 
 I'll do some huntin' that will make them savages 
 skip! " exclaimed Andy. 
 
 In a little while Washington came up to where 
 the others from the Porpoise stood on the beach. 
 The colored man was panting from his run. 
 
 " De most monstrous disproportionately extra- 
 dition ob circumstantial occurrances dat ever trans- 
 positioned on my optical vasionariness ! " he ex- 
 claimed as he laid his gun and the black box care- 
 fully down on the sand. " Ten thousand naked 
 imps of darkness swarmin' ober de ship an' not a 
 pusson to say what dey ought to do an' where dey 
 ought t' go ! It am suttinly terrible ! " 
 
 143
 
 144 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 "Why didn't you shoot some of 'em?" de- 
 manded Andy. 
 
 " Me ? " exclaimed Washington. " What for I 
 want t' shoot 'em? S'pose I want 'em t' git mad 
 at me?" 
 
 " Well, you're a great one," went on Andy, pick- 
 ing up the gun. " I guess I'll have to take a few 
 shots myself." 
 
 " Yes, sah." 
 
 From Washington the adventurers learned how 
 the savages had silently come up in their canoes and 
 surrounded the ship, gaining possession of it before 
 he could make any effort at defense, even had he 
 so desired. 
 
 " What are we to do now? " asked Mrs. John- 
 son, when they had retreated out of sight of the 
 savages. " The natives have possession of the 
 boat, and how are we to regain her when there are 
 so many of them? " 
 
 " It certainly is a hard nut to crack," admitted 
 the professor. " We will have to camp out on the 
 beach for a while and see what happens. Perhaps 
 they may leave the vessel when they find it will do 
 them no good. They can't run her." 
 
 " But they can tear her all apart and damage the 
 machinery," said Jack. " Then we would be in a 
 pickle." 
 
 " Well, we won't hope for any such bad luck as
 
 ON LAND 145 
 
 that," interrupted the professor. " We will look 
 for the best." 
 
 * When are we going to have breakfast? " asked 
 the little girl, after a long wait. " I'm hungry, 
 mother." 
 
 ' We will have it pretty soon," replied Mrs. 
 Johnson in order to quiet her daughter's mind. 
 
 " But I want it now," continued Nellie. " I'm 
 very hungry." 
 
 " Hush ! " said Mrs. Johnson. 
 
 " An' I had de finest brekfust what was ever in- 
 vented," said Washington, rolling his big eyes. 
 " Mud turlde eggs, ham, preserves, coffee " 
 
 4 That will do, Washington," said the professor. 
 " It only makes our mouths water to think about 
 such things." 
 
 At the mention of the turtle eggs Jack nudged 
 Mark, and signalled him to walk to one side, 
 When they were out of earshot of the others Jack 
 said: 
 
 " What's the matter with cooking some of the 
 eggs that are left on the sand? There are plenty 
 of them, and there is no sense in our going hun 
 
 " How you going to cook 'em? " asked Mark. 
 " I'll show you," replied Jack. 
 He scooped a hollow place out in the sand until 
 he had quite a hole. This he banked up with
 
 i 4 6 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 stones until he had a small oven. By arching the 
 stones over toward the top there was left a sort of 
 circular opening. Over this Jack fitted a monster 
 clam shell, with the concave side uppermost. 
 
 This made an improvised stew pan. Under- 
 neath was piled small bits of dry drift-wood, 
 which a match soon set on fire. In a little while 
 the water in the big shell was boiling. 
 
 " Now get some other shells for dishes," said 
 Jack to Mark. 
 
 Soon Mark had piled up a lot of smaller shells. 
 
 " Help me gather some eggs now," said Jack, 
 " and we'll put them in to boil. Then we'll in- 
 vite the rest of the folks to breakfast." 
 
 The two boys soon uncovered from the sand a 
 pile of the eggs, and in a little while they were 
 steaming in the hot water. Then Jack arranged 
 the shell-dishes on the sand. He went over to 
 where the others were gloomily considering their 
 plight. 
 
 " Breakfast is ready," he announced. 
 
 " This isn't any time for joking," spoke Pro- 
 fessor Henderson, rather sternly. 
 
 " But I mean it," went on Jack. " Just come 
 over and see. I'm not fooling you." 
 
 Wondering what he had done they all followed 
 him. 
 
 " Welcome to Hotel Terra del Fuego ! " cried
 
 ON LAND 147 
 
 Mark. " We haven't much of a variety, but what 
 there is we can recommend." 
 
 He began to dip the eggs out of the water with 
 a bit of shell and placed them on the improvised 
 dishes. 
 
 " Everyone sit down," commanded Jack. 
 " The bill of fare is ready." 
 
 They all joined in the short laugh that followed, 
 and soon were seated in a circle about the beach- 
 oven. The eggs proved to be very good, even 
 though there was no pepper. The salt of the sea 
 water they were boiled in was more than sufficient. 
 
 " Now if there was only bread in that ammu- 
 nition bag Washington brought with the gun," said 
 Andy, " we wouldn't want a better meal." 
 
 " He'p yo'se'f!" exclaimed the colored man 
 with a grin as he extended a canvas bag that was 
 tied to the stock of the electric gun. 
 
 The old hunter opened it and found it filled 
 with ship biscuits. 
 
 " Well I am stumped! " he exclaimed. 
 
 " I grabbed up de wrong thing in my haste," 
 Washington explained. " I thought I had de 
 electrical lightning bullets, but I didn't. How- 
 somever de gun's got some in de chamber." 
 
 " It's a lucky mistake," commented the professor 
 as he munched a biscuit and an egg. " Bullets 
 are good but these are better, when one is hungry."
 
 i 4 8 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 They managed to make a fairly good meal, so 
 that even hungry Nellie was satisfied. The boys 
 found a spring of fresh water up on shore, and this 
 furnished something to drink, for which they were 
 grateful.. 
 
 They sat about on the beach, after the break- 
 fast and discussed what they had better do. It 
 was evident that an attempt to regain possession 
 of the ship, with their small force and only one 
 weapon, was out of the question. 
 
 " We've got to use strategy," said Andy. " If 
 we could play some trick on the savages we might 
 scare them away. Otherwise I don't see what we 
 are to do." 
 
 " It's a bad state of affairs," replied professor 
 Henderson. " Even if we got the ship we might 
 find it so badly damaged that it would be impos- 
 sible to run it. It is a terrible thing," and he 
 heaved a deep sigh. 
 
 The hours passed with no change in the situa- 
 tion. The savages remained in possession of the 
 submarine, and did not seem inclined to quit the 
 vessel. Most of them were inside, but quite a 
 number paddled about the stranded craft in their 
 canoes. 
 
 There was nothing for the adventurers to do 
 but to await developments. With no chance of at- 
 tacking the force of natives, they might consider
 
 ON LAND 149 
 
 themselves lucky if the savages did not come ashore 
 to give battle. 
 
 The sun was high in the heavens when, in the 
 shade of a big tree where they had all taken refuge 
 from the heat, Nellie again announced that she 
 was hungry. 
 
 " I guess the boys will have to provide another 
 meal," said Mr. Henderson. 
 
 Jack and Mark said they guessed they could 
 find some more turtle eggs, and Washington volun- 
 teered to accompany them. As they were looking 
 for a nest in the sand they saw one of the tortoises 
 scurrying down to the ocean. 
 
 "Git her, quick!" cried the colored man. 
 " Turn her ober on her back ! " 
 
 The boys did so, though they did not know what 
 Washington's object was. The big animal lay 
 bottom side up, vainly moving its flippers. In a 
 few minutes Washington had killed the turtle and 
 cut it out of the shell. 
 
 " Now we'll hab turtle soup ! " he exclaimed. 
 
 Soon the fire was again blazing in the improvised 
 stove, and a little later an appetizing smell filled 
 the air. Washington had made the soup, and, in 
 addition, had cooked a number of the turtle eggs. 
 
 Big clam shells again served for dishes and a 
 better meal than the breakfast was served. 
 
 " Now if we only had some dessert," spoke Mr.
 
 150 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 Henderson in a joking tone, " we wouldn't want 
 much more. But I suppose dessert is out of the 
 question." 
 
 Jack and Mark looked at each other and, with- 
 out a word went off toward the woods. In a lit- 
 tle while they came back, their arms filled with 
 cocoanuts. 
 
 " How will these do for dessert? " asked Jack. 
 
 " Fine ! " cried Mr. Henderson. 
 
 The fruit was broken open with stones and the 
 delicious milk and soft pulp eaten with much relish. 
 Then the adventurers stretched out beneath the 
 trees and rested. The thoughts of each one were 
 busy with plans for recovering the submarine, 
 though no one seemed to be able to suggest any 
 thing. 
 
 It was getting dusk, when, somewhat discouraged 
 over the result of the visit of the savages, they 
 were all seated on the beach. They were begin- 
 ning to think again of something to eat when Andy 
 Sudds, discovered the long black box which Wash- 
 ington had brought with him in his flight from the 
 Porpoise, and dropped in a hollow. 
 
 " I suppose you've got something very fine in 
 there, Washington ? " 
 
 u I declare to goodness I don't know what dat 
 air contraption am conglomerated with," said the 
 colored man. " I jest grabbed it up and run."
 
 ON LAND 151 
 
 The old hunter had, in the meanwhile, taken 
 the cover off. 
 
 " What in the world have we struck," he ex- 
 claimed. 
 
 " Sky rockets! " cried Jack, with a glance at the 
 contents of the box. 
 
 ** Yes," said Professor Henderson. " I took 
 seme aboard in case we might have to signal for 
 help on the water." 
 
 "Hurrah!" yelled Andy. 
 
 " What's the matter? " asked Jack. 
 
 " We'll use the sky rockets as weapons against 
 the natives ! " shouted the old hunter, capering 
 about on the sand.
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 
 REGAINING THE SHIP 
 
 AT first the others did not know what he meant. 
 Andy seemed much excited, and for a time the pro- 
 fessor thought the heat and worry might have af- 
 fected the hunter's mind. 
 
 " We'll show 'em a thing or two ! " cried Andy. 
 " I once scared a lot of Indians this way so they 
 didn't know whether they were on their head or 
 their feet. Hurrah I " 
 
 "What are you talking about?" asked Mr. 
 Henderson. " Hadn't you better sit down and 
 rest a bit?" 
 
 " I'm all right," replied Andy. " I'm talking 
 about those sky rockets. They'll be better than 
 bullets. You see," he went on, " after it gets dark 
 we'll shoot the rockets over the ship. The savages 
 will think they are in the midst of a lot of falling 
 stars, and if they don't take to their boats and 
 leave us the ship I'll miss my guess, that's all." 
 
 " Good! " exclaimed the inventor. " We'll try 
 it." 
 
 The rockets were taken out and examined. 
 
 152
 
 REGAINING THE SHIP 153 
 
 They were big affairs of several pound weight and 
 were intended for far-off signalling at sea. 
 
 Andy, with the aid of the boys, Tom and Bill, 
 soon constructed a rough sort of support from 
 which to set off the fire-works. As soon as it grew 
 dark, which it did about seven o'clock, prepara- 
 tions were made to try the experiment. 
 
 With a whizz and roar the first rocket went 
 sailing skyward. Up through the black night it 
 went, trailing behind it a shower of fire and sparks. 
 Then, with a loud report like that of a gun it burst 
 directly over the ship and a rain of brilliantly 
 colored globes of flame descended. 
 
 u Shot number one ! " cried Andy, who was set- 
 ting off the rockets. 
 
 For a few seconds after the first flight there came 
 no sound from the natives at the ship. Then, 
 just as the second rocket was set off there issued 
 a long-drawn howl, which was succeeded by cries 
 of fear. 
 
 " We've waked 'em up ! " shouted Jack. 
 
 In rapid succession several more rockets were 
 sent over the Porpoise. By the light of them could 
 be seen a mass of natives crowded out on the small 
 deck, while others were in their canoes. 
 
 " I think I'll try it a little lower this time," re- 
 marked Andy. " Maybe I can hit some of 'em ! " 
 
 He slanted the support closer to the ground and
 
 154 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 set off two rockets at once. Straight across the 
 sandy beach they flew, directly toward the crowd 
 of natives on the ship. Right into the midst of 
 the savages the trailing comet of fire shot, with a 
 hiss, roar and sputter that was enough to strike 
 terror into the bravest heart. 
 
 There was a long piercing howl of fear. Then, 
 as the natives felt the hot sparks scatter over their 
 half-naked bodies, they broke into a wild stampede. 
 Over the side of the ship they plunged, into the 
 sea, and swam off. Those in boats paddled quickly 
 away. 
 
 For good measure Andy sent another rocket into 
 the midst of the fleeing ones, and this served to 
 quicken their departure. By the light of the last 
 one it could be seen that the ship was deserted, 
 though the water all about her was black with the 
 swimming savages, and the canoes. 
 
 " I guess they won't come back in a hurry ! " 
 cried Andy. " Come on ! We'll board the ship 
 now, and get the electric guns to ward off any fur- 
 ther attacks ! " 
 
 " That's the talk! " cried Mark. 
 
 Toward the Porpoise all started on a run. As 
 they neared her they found that the rising tide had 
 floated her. 
 
 " We must see if the natives damaged her," 
 spoke Mr. Henderson as soon as he set foot on
 
 REGAINING THE SHIP 155 
 
 deck. "If they have it will be a hard matter to 
 make repairs so far from civilization." 
 
 A hasty examination, however, showed that the 
 savages had disturbed little. The engine was soon 
 set in motion, and, in ten minutes the ship was 
 steaming away from the coast, headed toward the 
 south, the goal they were so eagerly seeking. 
 
 As soon as they were well out to sea, and all 
 sight of the canoes of the savages had been lost, 
 supper was served, and all brought good appetites 
 to the table. For, though the improvised meals 
 on shore had tasted good, there had not been much 
 to them. 
 
 For several days the Porpoise was kept on her 
 course, sailing along under the water by day, and 
 upon the surface at night. It was one pleasant af- 
 ternoon, while Nellie, Jack and Mark were sitting 
 out on the deck, during one of the times when the 
 boat had risen to the surface to renew the air sup- 
 ply, that a strange commotion was observed off 
 their lee. The ocean seemed to be boiling. 
 
 " What is that? " asked the little girl. 
 
 The two boys looked to where she pointed. In- 
 deed the ocean seemed to be bubbling up and down 
 in a strange manner. 
 
 " It's a school of porpoises," said Jack. 
 
 Just then the water became alive with big fish. 
 They leaped over each other, springing high into
 
 156 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 the air and falling back into the sea with resound- 
 ing splashes. 
 
 " They're not porpoises ! They're whales ! " 
 Baby whales ! " yelled Mark. " Look out or some 
 of the big ones may ram the boat ! " 
 
 As he spoke the water all about the submarine 
 was seen to be fairly swarming with the small 
 whales. There were scores of them, and, at times, 
 they were so thick that it appeared possible to 
 walk out upon them without getting very deep into 
 the water. 
 
 Suddenly the ship careened to one side and the 
 sea rushed over the deck. It was evident that one 
 of the big whales, which were deeper down in the 
 water, had struck the vessel. 
 
 Nellie screamed and tried to grab the hand rail 
 that was about the platform. She missed her grip. 
 The next instant she was floundering in the ocean, 
 in the midst of the school of whales. 
 
 " Man overboard ! " yelled Jack, remembering 
 vaguely that he had read this was the proper call 
 to make in case of accident. 
 
 His cry brought Washington and the professor 
 up the companionway on the jump. 
 
 " Launch the boat ! " cried the inventor as he 
 saw what had happened. 
 
 Mark was already in action. At the first sight 
 of Nellie slipping over the side he had thrown off
 
 REGAINING THE SHIP 157 
 
 his coat, broken the laces of his shoes in order the 
 more quickly to remove the foot coverings, and 
 had dived into the swirling water which surrounded 
 the submarine. 
 
 He struck out in the direction where the littlf 
 girl had disappeared, and as her golden head ap, 
 peared above the mass of foam he yelled in en- 
 couragement. 
 
 By this time the small boat was launched and 
 the colored man and Jack were pulling toward him. 
 Mark succeeded in reaching Nellie as she was go- 
 ing down the second time. He grabbed her long 
 locks and managed to keep her up until the little 
 craft was alongside of him. 
 
 " Git in quick, 'fore dem whales eat yo' upl " 
 cried Washington. 
 
 He hauled the unconscious child in first, and 
 then Jack gave Mark a hand. As if by magic all 
 the whales had disappeared and the sea was quiet 
 again. In a few minutes the rescuers and the res- 
 cued one were back again on the Porpoise, where 
 Professor Henderson soon brought Nellie around 
 again. Beyond the shock and wetting neither she 
 nor Mark was harmed. 
 
 It was Jack's watch on deck that night. He 
 had the tour from eight until twelve o'clock and 
 when, about ten, every one but himself had retired, 
 he took his position in the door of the conning
 
 158 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 tower and prepared to pass the time as best he 
 could. 
 
 The ship was moving along at half speed, and, 
 as the automatic steering attachment was working 
 Jack had little to do. He sat looking at the stars 
 that twinkled in the sky, the blazing Southern Cross 
 showing among the constellations, when he heard 
 a slight noise near the companionway. 
 
 He looked in that direction and, to his horror, 
 he saw the ghostly white shape that had, on pre- 
 vious occasions, caused him and the others fright. 
 
 At first the boy resolved to shut himself up in 
 the tower and wait until the uncanny thing had 
 disappeared. Then his courage came back and he 
 thought he would try to solve the mystery. 
 
 He argued that if the wierd white object was 
 human and could witness his movements the best 
 thing to do would be to try and creep upon it un- 
 observed. On the contrary, if the ghost was some 
 natural phenomenon, or a supernatural agent, all 
 he could do would be of no avail. 
 
 So he decided the best thing to do would be to 
 crawl upon the thing, keeping as near to the deck 
 as possible and trying to hide himself. With this 
 in view he put on a long rain coat that hung in 
 the conning tower, and then, like a snake, com- 
 menced to wiggle his way toward the middle of 
 the platform where the white object still stood.
 
 REGAINING THE SHIP 159 
 
 Nearer and nearer to it Jack came. His heart 
 was beating fast and he was much frightened, but 
 he nerved himself to continue. As he came closer 
 he could see that the object looked more and more 
 like a man, completely robed in white garments. 
 
 Jack was now within ten feet of the strange ob- 
 ject. It was a man, he was sure of it, but whether 
 a present or former inhabitant of the earth he could 
 not decide. Jack's hair was beginning to raise. 
 A cold shiver ran down his spine as the white thing 
 lifted an arm and seemed to point directly at him. 
 At the same time it groaned in a deep tone. 
 
 Jack let out a yell that could be heard all over 
 the ship. He made a spring for the object, de- 
 termined to discover what it was or die. 
 
 At that instant the whole ship seemed to rise 
 in the air. It left the water and began moving 
 skyward. Right out of the waves the Porpoise 
 was lifted until the big screw was clear of the 
 water and it was churning around in the tunnel 
 without any resistance, racing at top speed now that 
 it had no water to thrust against. 
 
 Then the ghost seemed to vanish into thin air, 
 and Jack felt himself falling down the hatchway.
 
 CHAPTER XX 
 
 ON A VOLCANIC ISLAND 
 
 IN an instant the ship was in confusion. The 
 professor, followed by old Andy, Washington, 
 Mark, Bill and Tom, came rushing from their 
 berths, all in their night clothing, to see what the 
 trouble was. They met in a tangled mass, stum- 
 bling over Jack at the foot of the steps. 
 
 "Is the ship on fire?" called Mrs. Johnson 
 from her cabin. 
 
 " I hope not ! " called the professor. " But 
 something has happened. Don't be frightened ! " 
 
 By this time Jack, who had been somewhat 
 stunned, recovered his senses and worked his way 
 out of the mass of bodies. 
 
 ' The ghost ! The ghost ! " he cried. " I saw 
 him again ! " 
 
 " Land a' massy ! " yelled Washington. 
 
 " What has happened to the ship ? " cried the 
 professor. " Is it a tidal wave? " 
 
 " I was on deck," panted Jack. " I saw the 
 white thing! I crept up on it! All at once the 
 ship rose in the air! " 
 
 1 60
 
 ON A VOLCANIC ISLAND 161 
 
 " And it's still rising ! " shouted the inventor. 
 " I must see what this means ! " 
 
 He made his way to the deck, and his loud shout 
 soon brought the others up to him. 
 
 " Shut off the engine ! " Mr. Henderson called 
 down to Washington, who hurried to obey. 
 
 "What has happened?" asked Andy, rushing 
 towards him. 
 
 " We have run upon an island," answered the 
 professor. " This is the worst thing that has yet 
 happened to us." 
 
 ' What sort of an island is it that shoots you up 
 in the air? " asked the old hunter. 
 
 " It's hard to say," replied Mr. Henderson. 
 '* We will have to wait until morning to find out." 
 
 The boys and men went up on deck and there be- 
 held a curious sight. The Porpoise had been lifted 
 bodily from the surface of the ocean where she had 
 been sailing and was now raised about ten feet 
 above the crest of the billows. It was too dark to 
 see the extent of the island she rested on, but, from 
 the circle of foam around the outer edge it did 
 not appear to be very big. 
 
 The excitement occasioned by the appearance of 
 the ghost, Jack's yells and fall, and the rising of 
 the ship, had subsided somewhat. Mrs. Johnson 
 and her daughter, who were much frightened, were 
 assured there was no immediate danger, and the
 
 i6a THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 men and boys put on more substantial clothing than 
 that of their night robes. 
 
 It seemed as if morning would never come, but 
 at length there was a pale light in the east and 
 soon it changed to a rosy glow, showing that the 
 sun was coming. 
 
 The professor was early on deck, and Mark and 
 Jack were not far behind. As soon as it was light 
 enough they could see that the ship was held fast 
 on top of a small rocky isle, about one hundred 
 feet in diameter, which rose abruptly from the 
 water. 
 
 " It's a volcanic island," decided the professor. 
 " We are in the midst of subterreanean disturb- 
 ances and this is probably one of the effects of some 
 under-sea eruption. The pinnacle of rock rose 
 from the ocean, forced up by some power under- 
 neath, just as our ship came over it. That accounts 
 for the sudden rising into the air of the Porpoise. 
 No wonder we were all scared." 
 
 ; ' The next question," began old Andy, " is how 
 are we to get off ? " 
 
 ;t That's the point," agreed Mr. Henderson. 
 " Here we are, high and dry, and we might as well 
 be a broken flying machine as a submarine for all 
 the power we have." 
 
 "Will we have to stay here forever?" asked 
 Nellie, who had come up on deck.
 
 ON A VOLCANIC ISLAND 163 
 
 " I hope not," answered the professor, smiling 
 for the first time since the accident. " We will 
 find a way to get down, never fear, little girl." 
 
 " I suppose we might dig some sort of a canal 
 down to the water," remarked Jack. " If we 
 could we might float the ship." 
 
 u I'm afraid you'd find it slow digging through 
 this volcanic rock," answered Andy. " It's like 
 flint." 
 
 " Well, there's no use worrying over it," went 
 on the professor in as calm a tone as he could mus- 
 ter. " It's time for breakfast, and we have to eat 
 whether we're on the top of an island that shoots 
 out of the water when you least expect it, or sail- 
 ing along as we ought to." 
 
 Accordingly Washington prepared the morning 
 meal, and they all found they had appetites for it, 
 in spite of their fright. Afterward they all came 
 on deck again and looked about them. 
 
 They were in the midst of a wild waste of water. 
 Not a sign of land could be seen in any direction, 
 and there was no evidence of a sail or steamship 
 as far as the horizon showed. 
 
 The little island which held the Porpoise so 
 close a prisoner was a mere speck in the vast ocean, 
 but it was large enough to put an end, temporarily 
 at least, to the progress of the powerful submarine. 
 
 The professor and the boys went over the side
 
 164 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 and climbed down to the rock. Then the inventor 
 verified his surmise that the rocky point was of 
 volcanic origin. It was also seen that there was 
 little chance to get the craft back into the ocean. 
 
 " I guess we're doomed to stick here for some 
 time," remarked Mr. Henderson, with a grim 
 smile. " The rock has caught us squarely and 
 nothing short of dynamite will free us. To use 
 the explosive might mean the destruction of the 
 ship, and I dare not risk it." 
 
 Gloom settled over the party in spite of the ef- 
 forts the professor made to be cheerful. Wash- 
 ington, after the first few minutes of fright, re- 
 gained his usual good spirits, but, no matter how 
 he laughed and joked, there was a feeling of ter- 
 ror in every heart. 
 
 They realized their helplessness, and knew that 
 unless another upheaval of nature occurred there 
 was small likelihood of their release. 
 
 On the third day of their strange adventure Pro- 
 fessor Henderson resolved on a bold step. 
 
 " We must use dynamite," he declared. " If 
 we stay here on this desolate rock we are bound 
 to perish sooner or later, for our food cannot last 
 many months, though we have a large supply. We 
 are out of the path of steamers and only by chance 
 would one pass here. With care we may be able 
 to blast the rock so that the ship will not be
 
 ON A VOLCANIC ISLAND 165 
 
 permanently damaged. What do you all say? I 
 would like your advice, for this concerns all of 
 us." 
 
 One after the other all said they were willing to 
 abide by whatever the inventor did. Accordingly 
 he made his preparations. Washington, with a 
 hammer and chisel, was set to cutting a fair sized 
 hole in the big rock, as far away from the ship as 
 possible. 
 
 He was two days at the job, and, during this 
 time those on the stranded Porpoise watched in 
 vain for the sight of a vessel. 
 
 " I am going to put the dynamite in," announced 
 Mr. Henderson one morning. " We must all get 
 into the small boat and row some distance away, 
 as there is no telling what the result of the ex- 
 plosion may be." 
 
 " Suppose the submarine is destroyed? " asked 
 Mrs. Johnson. 
 
 ' Then we will have to sail for the nearest land 
 in the small boat," replied the captain. " I will 
 provision it and we will take all the precautions we 
 can." 
 
 It was with anxious hearts that the little party 
 embarked in the little craft that was carried on the 
 Porpoise. It was barely large enough to hold 
 them. The professor was the last in, and he 
 lighted a long fuse that led to the dynamite before
 
 1 66 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 taking his seat. Then with Tom and Bill at the 
 oars the little craft moved away. 
 
 " How long before the explosion will take 
 place? " asked Jack. 
 
 " I timed the fuse for ten minutes," answered 
 Mr. Henderson. " That will enable us to get far 
 enough away so we will not be swamped by a 
 wave." 
 
 Five minutes later Mark, who was intently 
 watching the volcanic rock, gave a loud cry. 
 
 " There she goes ! " he shouted. 
 
 They all looked to behold a wonderful thing. 
 As easily as though it was some conjuring trick 
 the rock began to settle down in the water. Lower 
 and lower it went until only the tallest jagged 
 points showed above the waves, whose crested tops 
 the keel of the ship now almost touched. 
 
 " That isn't the explosion ! " exclaimed the pro- 
 fessor. " The fuse has not had time to get to the 
 powder yet." 
 
 " But the rock is disappearing ! " yelled Andy. 
 
 As he spoke the big pile of volcanic stone van- 
 ished completely and the Porpoise floated easily on 
 the surface of the sea. 
 
 "Hurrah I "cried Mark. 
 
 " It am de most kloslostrous occurranceness dat 
 eber transpositioned itself!" exploded Washing- 
 ton.
 
 ON A VOLCANIC ISLAND 167 
 
 " Let's row back to the ship now 1 " cried Mark. 
 
 " Not yet ! " said the professor quickly. " The 
 dynamite has not gone off yet." 
 
 '* There it goes now," remarked Jack. 
 
 At that instant a big column of water shot up- 
 ward and a dull rumbling could be heard. A few 
 seconds later the little boat rocked violently from 
 the effects of the waves. Then the sea became 
 calm, and the Porpoise could be seen dancing up 
 and down on the heaving billows. 
 
 " Now we can go back in safety," spoke Mr. 
 Henderson, and Tom and Bill bent to the oars. 
 
 "What happened?" asked Mrs. Johnson. 
 " The rock seemed to disappear before the ex- 
 plosion occurred." 
 
 " That's exactly what it was," explained the in- 
 ventor. " By some strange freak of nature the 
 volcanic mass dropped back into the ocean a little 
 before I was ready to blow it to pieces. In settling 
 down it lowered the ship. Then the explosion oc- 
 curred beneath the waves. If I had waited a lit- 
 tle while I need not have risked the dynamite." 
 
 " Well, there was no guarantee that the rock 
 would go back where it came from," remarked 
 Jack. 
 
 " No, we had to act," agreed the professor. 
 " But now let us go aboard." 
 
 They rowed back to the Porpoise, which they
 
 168 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 found had sustained no damage from the queer ex- 
 perience it had been through. 
 
 The motors were set in motion and in a little 
 while the craft was again moving through the 
 water out of the dangerous vicinity of the volcanic 
 area. 
 
 "Who has the two watches to-night?" asked 
 Mr. Henderson after supper had been served. 
 
 " Washington and Andy," answered Jack, who 
 kept track of the matter. 
 
 " I guess we'll change it, and have you and 
 Mark take them," went on the captain. He gave 
 Jack a peculiar look, and made a sign to him not 
 Jo say anything. Wondering what was to come 
 Jack went up on deck to watch the sunset.
 
 CHAPTER XXI 
 
 CAUGHT IN A WHIRLPOOL 
 
 THE boy was joined a little later by the captain, 
 who, coming close to him whispered: 
 
 " I am going to try to discover the ghost to- 
 night. That is why I wanted you boys on hand 
 to help me. This thing must be stopped if it is a 
 joke, and, if it isn't " 
 
 " Do you think it is some one playing tricks ? " 
 asked Jack. 
 
 " I don't know what to think," answered Mr. 
 Henderson. " We will see what happens to- 
 night." 
 
 Mark came on deck a little while, and the three 
 talked of the strange appearances of the mysterious 
 white object. The boys told of their experiences, 
 and Jack related more fully his on the night the 
 ship went up on the big rock upheaval. 
 
 " I don't believe in ghosts," said Mr. Hender- 
 son, " I'm going to lay this one," and he smiled 
 grimly. 
 
 Night settled down. Jack, who had the first 
 tour under the new arrangement, had made himself 
 
 169
 
 170 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 comfortable in the conning tower, and Mr. Hen- 
 derson had hidden himself in the companion-way. 
 His idea was to thus guard both openings into the 
 ship and ascertain whether the ghost came from 
 within or without the craft. 
 
 Up to a short time before twelve o'clock noth- 
 ing out of the ordinary happened. The only sound 
 was the lapping of the waves on the steel sides of 
 the Porpoise, and now and then a splash as a big 
 fish leaped out of the water. There was only 
 the slightest breeze. 
 
 Jack who, somehow or other, felt much sleepier 
 than usual, caught himself nodding several times. 
 Once he awoke with a start and realized that he 
 had been dozing. 
 
 " Come, come," he remarked to himself, " this 
 will not do at all. This is a fine way to watch for 
 a ghost." 
 
 He remained wide awake for perhaps five 
 minutes. Then he was off to the land of nod 
 again. He was just dreaming that he was skat-" 
 ing on a pond and was playing snap the whip with 
 a lot of boys, when he awoke with a start. 
 
 He felt something pressing on his chest and to 
 his horror, as he looked up, he saw a big towering 
 white object standing over him. A second glance 
 showed him it was a man, or the semblance of one, 
 and the thing's foot was on his chest
 
 CAUGHT IN A WHIRLPOOL 171 
 
 With a terrified scream Jack sprang up, upset- 
 ting the ghost, which, the boy thought at the time, 
 seemed rather heavy for an unearthly spirit. 
 
 "Did you catch it?" cried the professor. 
 
 "No! Yes! I don't know!" yelled Jack, 
 struggling to his feet in time to see the white object 
 glide down the stairs that led from the conning 
 tower into the forward cabin. 
 
 " Run after it! We must solve the mystery! " 
 cried Mr. Henderson springing from the compan- 
 ionway up on deck. 
 
 But at that moment the ship began to whirl 
 about in a circle slowly at first, but with increasing 
 speed until Jack and the professor felt sick and 
 dizzy. All about the water seemed to be bubbling 
 and boiling, while, at the same time, there arose on 
 the air a mournful howl. 
 
 The professor jumped to the rail and looked 
 over the side. What he saw made him recoil with 
 horror. 
 
 " Quick I Close the man-hole hatch ! " he cried. 
 " Shut the door of the conning tower 1 " 
 
 " What is it? " Jack managed to ask. 
 
 " We are caught in a whirlpool ! " Mr. Hen- 
 derson yelled as he leaped down the companion- 
 way and pulled the heavy steel cover after him. 
 
 Stricken with a nameless dread, Jack closed tbe 
 water-tight door of the conning tower and madr
 
 172 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 his way to the cabin. He could hardly get down 
 the stairs, so swiftly was the ship whirling about. 
 
 He found the captain busy in the engine room 
 and, in response to calls Washington and Mark 
 came hurrying in. They had been awakened by 
 the commotion and the strange movements of the 
 Porpoise. 
 
 " Turn on all the lights," ordered the inventor. 
 " We must prepare for the worst." 
 
 The incandescents were soon glowing and in the 
 glare the frightened adventurers gathered about 
 Mr. Henderson, wondering what new terror had 
 befallen them. 
 
 " See ! " exclaimed the inventor. " We are go- 
 ing comparatively slow now, but we are on the 
 outer edge. Wait until we reach the centre." 
 
 He pointed to a compass and, as the needle 
 pointed steadily to the north the card seemed to be 
 going around like the hands of a clock that has lost 
 the balance and escapement wheels. The ship 
 made three complete circles a minute. 
 
 Pale and frightened, Mrs. Johnson came from 
 her cabin, whence the terrified cries of Nellie could 
 be heard. 
 
 " Are we sinking? " she asked. 
 
 " Sinking will never harm the Porpoise," replied 
 Mr. Henderson. " This is something decidedly
 
 CAUGHT IN A WHIRLPOOL 173 
 
 " I know ! It is a whirlpool ! " exclaimed the 
 lady. 
 
 "I'm dizzy; I'm so dizzy!" wailed Nellie. 
 " Please stop the ship from going round, Mr. Hen- 
 derson." 
 
 She came from her bed crying, and all her 
 mother could do did not quiet her. 
 
 Meanwhile the submarine continued to whirl 
 about faster and faster in the swirling waters. 
 Five times each minute now it made the circuit, 
 and, like the coils of a boa constrictor that is en- 
 folding its victim, the circles continually grew 
 smaller. 
 
 " We are being sucked down," said Jack in a 
 low tone as he glanced at the depth gage, and noted 
 that it showed them to be thirty feet under water. 
 
 " That is so," remarked Mr. Henderson quietly. 
 
 " What will be the result? " asked Mrs. John- 
 son. 
 
 " I do not know," was the answer, and the cap- 
 tain turned aside. He seemed to have lost all 
 courage in the face of the new disaster. 
 
 " Can't we empty the tanks and rise to the sur- 
 face? " asked Andy. 
 
 " The tanks are not filled," replied Mr. Hen- 
 derson. " What is taking us down is the force of 
 the whirlpool and not the weight of water." 
 
 " Then you fear for the worst? " asked Andy.
 
 174 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 " I do," said the captain simply. 
 
 " Don't give up the ship ! " exclaimed the old 
 hunter suddenly. " Never say die ! It's a long 
 lane that has no turns ! Hip ! Hip ! Hurrah 1 " 
 
 They all turned to stare at the old man. 
 
 " Never mind," said Mr. Henderson in a sooth- 
 ing tone, that one would use toward a baby, or a 
 person not right in their head. " Never mind. 
 We may be saved." 
 
 " Oh I'm not crazy ! " exclaimed Andy. He 
 tried to caper about but the motion of the ship 
 made him dizzy and he had to sit down. " I'm 
 all right 1 I just happened to think of some- 
 thing!" 
 
 "What is it?" asked the captain eagerly. 
 
 " Send the ship ahead ! " exclaimed Andy. 
 " Speed her as fast as she will go. Try her 
 strength against the force of the whirlpool I We 
 may win ! " 
 
 " Good 1 " exclaimed Mr. Henderson. " I was 
 too much depressed to think of that! The ship 
 has powerful engines. Queer you should remem- 
 ber that instead of me. Come, Washington, start 
 the screw going ! We will try to beat the whirl- 
 pool!" 
 
 The submarine was now whirling around so 
 rapidly that it was difficult for any one to stand 
 without leaning against the sides or holding on to
 
 CAUGHT IN A WHIRLPOOL 175 
 
 something. It was going lower and lower down, 
 as the gage showed. 
 
 Soon a throb that was felt through the length of 
 the craft told that the engine had started. The 
 vibration increased until it seemed that the ship 
 would be torn apart. Never had the big screw 
 revolved at greater speed. 
 
 For a while the struggle between the force of 
 man represented by the engine, and the power of 
 nature, embodied in the whirlpool, seemed equal. 
 Neither could gain the mastery. The ship con- 
 tinued to slide around in ever narrowing circles 
 while the big cable of water, forced through the 
 tunnel by the screw, was like a cataract. 
 
 " Which will win? " asked the professor softly 
 to himself. 
 
 He crawled to the gages and watched them. 
 Only by their needles could it be told when the 
 battle had turned in favor of the adventurers. 
 
 The circular motion, that was now terrible in 
 its speed and power, seemed to culminate in a rush 
 that almost overturned the ship. In the engine 
 room Washington was laboring to keep the ma- 
 chine at top speed. He put on the last ounce of 
 power. 
 
 " Hurrah ! " yelled the professor suddenly. " I 
 think we shall win! " 
 
 He pointed to the depth gage. The needle,
 
 176 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 which had showed a constantly increasing record, 
 until it was now at two hundred feet, had stopped. 
 It showed they were going no lower. 
 
 Then Mr. Henderson looked at the indicator 
 which showed the progress straight ahead. The 
 needle was beginning to tremble. As he watched 
 he saw it move, slowly at first, until, as the power- 
 ful screw won a victory over the terrible whirl- 
 pool. The gage marked one, two and then three 
 miles an hour. 
 
 " We are leaving the swirling waters ! " cried 
 Mr. Henderson. 
 
 Then, all at once, as though it was an arrow shot 
 from a gigantic bow, the Porpoise cleft the under- 
 billows and shot ahead, free at last from the grip 
 of the whirlpool. 
 
 Man had triumphed over nature I 
 
 On rushed the ship like a race horse, for the 
 engine was working as it never had before, and it 
 did not have the pool to contend against. 
 
 " Slow down," said Mr. Henderson, " and we 
 will go to the surface." 
 
 Two minutes later, under the buoyancy of her 
 empty tanks, the Porpoise lay floating on the top 
 of the waves, under the shining stars.
 
 CHAPTER XXII 
 
 UNDER FIRE 
 
 " I SHOULDN'T want to go through that exper- 
 ience again," remarked Mr. Henderson, as he, with 
 all of the ship's company except Mrs. Johnson and 
 Nellie went on deck. " I thought we were lost, 
 sure." 
 
 " Lucky our engine didn't go disproportionate 
 herself at de mostess criticless moment," put in 
 Washington. " Golly, but she suttinly did hum 1 " 
 
 " And you deserve credit for making her do the 
 humming," went on the professor with a smile. 
 
 " Well, we didn't catch the ghost," remarked 
 Jack, " though I certainly saw him, it or her, what- 
 ever the thing is. I felt it too." 
 
 " It's rather strange," spoke the professor. 
 " Every time, or nearly every time the ghost, as I 
 suppose we must call it for the present, makes its 
 appearance, something terrible happens to the ship. 
 I hope it doesn't show up too often." 
 
 It was three o'clock in the morning, and they 
 had battled with the whirlpool over two hours. 
 
 177
 
 178 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 They talked of little else, and each one told how 
 he or she felt. 
 
 " It was just like twisting yourself up tight in the 
 swing, and then letting the rope unwind," said 
 Nellie, and they all agreed that she had described 
 the sensation perfectly. They laughed, also, a 
 thing they had felt little like doing a short time 
 previous. 
 
 The engine had run so hard, and some of the 
 bearings had become so warm, that for the rest of 
 the night the professor decided to let the ma- 
 chinery remain stationary. This would give it 
 time to cool down he said, and they could make 
 up the time lost the next day. 
 
 Tired out with the night's worry and labors 
 they all slept late the next morning, and it was 
 nearly ten o'clock before breakfast was over. The 
 ship was started on her course once more, and 
 Jack, who was steering, made the engine hum as 
 the submarine scudded along, submerged about 
 fifty feet. 
 
 " When you have time I would like to talk to 
 you," said Mrs. Johnson to Captain Henderson. 
 
 " I'm at your service now," replied the inventor. 
 
 " What are you going to do with Nellie and 
 me? " the lady went on. 
 
 ;t Take you to the south pole with us," was the 
 answer, with a smile.
 
 UNDER FIRE 179 
 
 " It's very kind of you, and I don . want to put 
 you to any trouble," went on Mrs. Johnson. " But 
 I would like to go back north." 
 
 " I'd like to oblige you," returned the inventor, 
 " but I hate to turn back now. We are well on 
 our voyage, and I may never get another chance 
 to locate the pole. Don't you want to accompany 
 us ? Think of the glorious achievement ! " 
 
 " I'd rather go back north," persisted the lady. 
 " But I wouldn't ask you to turn the ship around. 
 What I was going to suggest was to sail along on 
 the surface for a few days and see if you cannot 
 sight a homeward bound steamer or sailing vessel. 
 Then you could put me and Nellie aboard her." 
 
 " Of course 1 " exclaimed Mr. Henderson. " I 
 never thought of that. Though we will be sorry 
 to lose your company, and that of your little girl, 
 I will do anything to oblige you. We will at once 
 go to the surface." 
 
 He called the necessary order to Jack through a 
 speaking tube which led to the conning tower. In 
 a few minutes the ship shot upward, and emerged 
 from the ocean in a little shower of foam and 
 spray. 
 
 She lay undulating on the surface, and was just 
 beginning to move forward again, under the in- 
 fluence of the screw, when a dull boom echoed off to 
 the left.
 
 180 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 Jack looked from the observation windows in 
 the conning tower and saw, about a mile away a 
 big steamer. From her side a white cloud of 
 smoke floated, and then the water splashed about 
 fifty feet from the blunt nose of the submarine. 
 
 Once more came the boom, the white cloud of 
 smoke and this time the water splashed only 
 twenty-five feet away from the bow of the Porpoise. 
 A third time came the sound, and the splash was 
 even nearer. 
 
 " They're firing on us ! " yelled Jack. 
 
 At his cry the professor ran on deck. He was 
 just in time to see the fourth shot made, and this 
 time the shell dropped into the water just astern 
 of the Porpoise and so close that when it exploded 
 it sent a shower of spray all over the deck. 
 
 "Here! Stop that!" yelled Mr. Henderson, 
 shaking his fist in the direction of the steamer. 
 " You nearly hit us that time. Do your practicing 
 in some other direction ! " 
 
 " I don't think they can hear you," said Jack. 
 " And besides, I don't believe they are practicing." 
 
 14 Then what in the world are they doing? " 
 
 " Shooting at us I guess." 
 
 " Why do they want to shoot at us ? We 
 haven't done them any damage." 
 
 " Perhaps they think we are a torpedo boat," 
 suggested Jack. " Maybe that vessel's nation is at
 
 UNDER FIRE 181 
 
 war with some other one and wants to sink us if it 
 
 can." 
 
 " I believe you're right! " exclaimed Mr. Hen- 
 derson. " But this will never do. They must 
 stop!" 
 
 Once more the big gun on the ship was fired 
 and the shell came dangerously close. At the 
 same time several other reports, less in volume 
 were heard, and the water all about the submarine 
 began to bubble as the missiles from the machine 
 guns cut the waves. 
 
 " Maybe it's an English vessel sent to capture 
 Mark and me because of that anarchist trouble at 
 the hotel," Jack went on. 
 
 " Nonsense ! " exclaimed the captain. " But 
 whatever it is, we must stop it, or they will sink 
 my ship. Wave your handkerchief, Jack." 
 
 The boy sprang to the top of the conning tower, 
 in order to permit those on the vessel to see him 
 more plainly, and vigorously shook the white rag. 
 That it was observed was evident when some one 
 on the steamer wig-wagged back a reply. In a 
 few minutes a boat was seen to put off from the 
 ship, and soon a little launch, in command of a 
 lieutenant in uniform, drew up alongside the Por- 
 poise. 
 
 11 Who is captain of this craft? " asked the lieu- 
 tenant as he came aboard.
 
 i82 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 " I am," replied Mr. Henderson. " What do 
 you mean by firing on me ? " 
 
 " I am Lieutenant Muchmore," said the other, 
 saluting. " Captain Wackford, of the Sylph, in 
 His Britanic Majesty's service, presents his compli- 
 ments, and asks you to pardon the occurrence. 
 You see we took you for a derelict and were trying 
 to sink you." 
 
 " I thought perhaps war had broken out be- 
 tween some country and the United States since 
 we left port," went on Mr. Henderson, " and that 
 you were trying to make a capture." 
 
 " No, it was only that we thought you a water- 
 logged craft, and a danger to navigation," repeated 
 the lieutenant. " But what sort of a ship have 
 you?" 
 
 " Come below and I'll show you the finest sub- 
 marine that ever was built," answered the inventor 
 with pardonable pride. " If you don't mind, give 
 your launch orders to go back to the ship, and I'll 
 show was something that will make you open your 
 eyes." 
 
 Anxious to see what the strange little craft could 
 do Lieutenant Muchmore sent his launch back, and 
 went below with Captain Henderson. He was as- 
 tonished at what he saw, and unlike most English- 
 men was willing to say so. 
 
 Mr. Henderson then went to the conning tower.
 
 UNDER FIRE 183 
 
 He directed the man-hole cover to be clamped on, 
 and then filled the tanks. The ship sank fifty feet 
 below the surface and then shot forward. 
 
 Seated in the cabin the lieutenant was observing 
 with wonder showing on his face at the accomplish- 
 ment of sailing along under water. Suddenly the 
 lights were shut off, and the shutters moved back 
 from the bull's-eye windows. The sea, glowing in 
 the beams of the search light, was alive with fish, 
 large and small, beautiful and hideous. 
 
 " Wonderful I " exclaimed the Englishman. 
 
 The bull's-eyes were closed, the lights switched 
 on, and then, speeding the engine almost to the top 
 notch the captain steered the submarine straight for 
 the war-ship. 
 
 He had carefully noted her direction before 
 starting his own craft, and he resolved to do a little 
 maneuvering that would still further astonish the 
 visitor. By careful reading of the different gages 
 Mr. Henderson was able to come to the surface 
 right in front of the Sylph, to the no small aston- 
 ishment of the men on the deck of the vessel. 
 
 Then, just to show what the Porpoise could do, 
 the inventor darted around the war-ship in a circle. 
 He sunk below the surface, went under the keel of 
 the Sylph and came up on the other side. Then 
 he went the whole length of her, under water, 
 starting at the stern and ending at the bow, where
 
 1 84 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 he brought the submarine to a rest in a smother o? 
 foam. 
 
 "Great! Wonderful! Surprising!" were 
 some of the adjectives Lieutenant Muchmore used 
 as he stepped from the conning tower, with Cap- 
 tain Henderson, onto the deck. 
 
 At the appearance of the officer and the inventor 
 a group of those on the Sylph gave three cheers for 
 the little vessel. 
 
 " Is she for sale?" asked Captain Wackford. 
 
 " No, thank you," replied Mr. Henderson with 
 a laugh. 
 
 " Because if she is I'll give you free passage to 
 England with her, on my ship," went on the com- 
 mander. " My government would give a fortune 
 for a boat that can do what yours does." 
 
 " It is not for sale," repeated Mr. Henderson, 
 " but I have some one on board who would ap- 
 preciate a free passage to England, or any northern 
 port." 
 
 " Who is it? " asked Captain Wackford. 
 
 " A Mrs. Johnson and her daughter,"
 
 CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 CAUGHT IN AN ICE FLOE 
 
 MR. HENDERSON soon explained the finding of 
 the lady and the little girl, and Captain Wackford 
 readily agreed to give them passage to New York, 
 as the Sylph was to call at that port. 
 
 So Nellie and her mother were put aboard the 
 warship, after bidding farewell to the captain and 
 crew of the submarine. Mr. Henderson and the 
 boys promised to write to them as soon as they got 
 back from their voyage to the south pole, and, 
 amid a chorus of good-byes the Porpoise resumed 
 her journey. 
 
 For several days the submarine forged to the 
 south, and the weather became noticeably cooler. 
 Some of the nights were chilly, and those on watch 
 were glad of the heavy coats they had brought 
 along. 
 
 One morning, after a week of travel, when no 
 interruptions had occurred by reason of accidents, 
 old Andy came up on deck, and sniffing the air. 
 said: 
 
 185
 
 186 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 " We'll sight ice before night, or I'm a Dutch- 
 man." 
 
 " What makes you think so ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " I can smell it," replied the hunter, whereat 
 Jack, and Mark who had joined him, laughed. 
 
 " That is no joke," put in Professor Henderson, 
 who, coming up the companionway heard what was 
 said. " Old sea captains will tell you they can 
 smell an iceberg long before they can see it." 
 
 " I don't claim to be a sea captain," said Andy, 
 " but I once was on a whaling voyage and I learned 
 to sniff ice in the air. I saved the ship from col- 
 lision with a berg once." 
 
 " Let me see," began the inventor as the adven- 
 turers sat about the supper table after the meal was 
 finished, " who have the watches on deck to- 
 night?" 
 
 ; ' Washington first and Bill second," replied 
 Jack looking at the chart. 
 
 " Keep a sharp watch for the icebergs," advised 
 the captain. " If you feel a sudden chill in the 
 air, and see something white, stop the engine at 
 once and call for me." 
 
 When the Porpoise had been put in shape for 
 the night, and the company, tired out from their 
 labors over a general " house cleaning " which 
 Captain Henderson had insisted on, went to bed, 
 Washington took his place in the conning tower.
 
 CAUGHT IN AN ICE FLOE 187 
 
 It was quite cold, but as the temperature for sev- 
 eral days past had been steadily falling, nothing 
 was thought of it. 
 
 " I guess I'll git out my fur-lined sealskin coat,'* 
 said the colored man to himself as he felt the chill 
 night air, that seemed to increase in frigidity along 
 about eleven o'clock. He went to the cabin to get 
 his overcoat, and, returning on deck prepared to 
 spend the rest of his hour of watch in ease and com- 
 fort. He stretched out on the bench in the con- 
 ning tower, noted that the machinery was working 
 right and that the proper course was beeing steered, 
 and then he let his thoughts drift to the many ad- 
 ventures he and his employer had gone through 
 of late, and also while on the trip " Through the 
 Air to the North Pole." 
 
 Washington gave one frightened, startled look, 
 in a few minutes, so comfortable had he fixed him- 
 self, but happening to look forward through the 
 glass-covered porthole of the tower, he saw some- 
 thing that made the cold chills run down his back. 
 
 There, right in front of the Porpoise, and not a 
 cable-length away was a tall, mysterious, white 
 thing which was shimmering in the pale light of the 
 moon that had lately risen. 
 
 Washington gave one firghtened, startled look, 
 and then, with a tongue that could hardly move, 
 he yelled out :
 
 i88 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 " De ghost I De ghost ! He'll git me suah I " 
 
 Then the colored man made a dive for the stair- 
 way leading to the cabin, but missed it and brought 
 up with a crash on the steel floor of the conning 
 tower. 
 
 "What is it?" called Professor Henderson, 
 springing out of his bunk. 
 
 " De ghost ! " wailed Washington from the hud- 
 dled up heap he was in. 
 
 " Catch him ! " yelled the captain. 
 
 " I dasn't," moaned Washington. 
 
 " The next instant the ship quivered from stem 
 to stern. There was a terrible shock, followed by 
 a grinding, crashing sound. Then the craft 
 seemed to be pressed down by some great weight. 
 It heeled over to one side, and the water began to 
 pour down the open man-hole. 
 
 "Quick! Clamp on the covers! " shouted Mr. 
 Henderson as he felt the sea dashing into the in- 
 terior of the boat. 
 
 Jack and Mark sprang to obey. It took all 
 their strength, for the water was running in like a 
 mill-race. 
 
 " What has happened? " asked Andy, as he tried 
 to climb up the companionway ladder, that was 
 tilted backward. 
 
 " I guess we've hit your iceberg! " cried Mr 
 Henderson.
 
 CAUGHT IN AN ICE FLOE 189 
 
 "I knew I smelled the frozen stuff," replied the 
 old hunter. 
 
 They got the covers on the manhole only just 
 in time and they all crowded into the cabin, while 
 Jack switched on the electric lights. 
 
 " Is the ship damaged? " asked Mark. 
 
 " I think not," replied Mr. Henderson. " But 
 we are sinking. Look at the depth gage." 
 
 The hand on the clock-face was moving slowly 
 around. From ten it went to twenty feet, then to 
 thirty and kept going until it stood at seventy. 
 
 " Look to the air tanks," ordered Mr. Hender- 
 son to Washington, who, by this time had recovered 
 from his fright. " See if they are all right." 
 
 The colored man came back in a few minutes 
 and reporte^ that the supply of compressed atmos- 
 phere was safe and that there was plenty of it. 
 
 ' That's good," remarked Mr. Henderson. 
 " Whatever else happens we can breathe for a 
 while." 
 
 " But what has happened? " asked Andy. 
 
 " I think the top part of an iceberg toppled down 
 on us," was the reply. " You know about nine- 
 tenths of a berg is under water. Sometimes there 
 is a warm current of the ocean underneath the ice, 
 and it melts. Then it becomes top-heavy and tilts 
 over. One of that sort must have caught us, and 
 has shoved us down into the sea."
 
 igo THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 " But why don't we rise again when the ice floe 
 slips off us? " asked Mark. 
 
 " Because, in all probability the ice will not slip 
 off us," answered the professor grimly. " It may 
 be so large that it has caught us like a bug under a 
 barn door." 
 
 " Then we are fast in the ice under water," spoke 
 Andy after a pause. 
 
 " It looks like it," came from the inventor. 
 " However we will not give up yet. We may be 
 able to make our way out. Start the engine at 
 full speed, Washington.*' 
 
 The machinery which the professor had shut 
 down at the first cry of alarm was set going. Soon 
 the throb and hum told that the big screw was 
 revolving. 
 
 Meanwhile the Porpoise had regained an even 
 keel, and had stopped sinking, remaining at the 
 depth of seventy feet below the surface. 
 
 ; ' We will first try to go straight ahead," said 
 the captain. 
 
 He turned on more power and they all waited in 
 anxiety. The test would tell whether they could 
 escape in that direction or not. 
 
 But, though the powerful screw churned the 
 water to foam in the tunnel, the Porpoise never 
 budged. It was as if she was held in a vice. 
 
 " It's of no use," remarked Mr. Henderson with
 
 CAUGHT IN AN ICE FLOE 191 
 
 a shake of his head as he watched the speed gage 
 and noted that it remained stationary. " We must 
 now try the other way." 
 
 Once more the big screw was set going, this time 
 in the opposite direction, so as to pull the ship out 
 of the ice if it was possible. But this, too, was of 
 no avail. 
 
 " It looks as if the ice had us," said Andy, try- 
 ing to speak in a cheerful tone. " But there's one 
 way more to try." 
 
 " What is that? " asked Mr. Henderson. 
 
 " If we were in the air ship we could go up," re* 
 plied the old hunter. " But, as it is, we had better 
 go down. Why don't you fill all the water tanks, 
 and try to sink beneath the iceberg? It can't go 
 down so very far into the water, and I reckon we 
 could slip under it." 
 
 "The very thing!" exclaimed the professor, 
 whose mind was too sorely troubled over the hap- 
 pening to enable him to think of plans of escape. 
 " That's the best thing to do." 
 
 Under the inventor's direction Washington 
 filled the tanks and then, ere the pumps had ceased 
 working, the screw was started and the deflecting 
 rudder inclined to cause the ship to dive. 
 
 One, two, three minutes passed, and still the 
 Porpoise did not move toward the bottom of the 
 sea. She remained submerged and stationary.
 
 i 9 2 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 Anxious eyes gazed at the dials. The indicating 
 hands trembled under the throbbing of the engines, 
 but did not move. 
 
 " It will not work ! " exclaimed Mr. Hender- 
 son in sorrowful tones. 
 
 " What does it mean ? " asked Bill, who had 
 come up to where the others stood. 
 
 "It means that we are prisoners in the ice; 
 caught between the upper and lower parts of a 
 gigantic berg, and held here under the water." 
 
 " Can't we ever get out? " asked Jack, a tremor 
 coming into his voice. " Can't we escape when 
 the ice melts? " 
 
 " The ice of the southern polar sea seldom melts 
 in this latitude," replied the professor. 
 
 An ominous silence folowed his words.
 
 CHAPTER XXIV 
 
 THE SHIP GRAVEYARD 
 
 TRULY the adventurers were in a position that 
 might well cause the stoutest heart to quail. With 
 hundreds of tons of ice above, below, and on every 
 side of them, their chances of escaping alive from 
 this frozen tomb were very small. 
 
 " Can't we make an attempt to get out of this 
 prison? " asked Jack. 
 
 " Indeed we will," said the professor. " We 
 will try all the means at our command. If they 
 all fail" 
 
 He dared not finish the sentence, but they all 
 knew what he meant. It was now about one 
 o'clock in the morning. The ship had become 
 stationary after the uneasy motion caused by the 
 oscilation of the big berg. 
 
 " We may as well turn in and get a little sleep," 
 remarked Mr. Henderson. ' We can all work 
 better if we get some rest." 
 
 It is doubtful whether any of them slept, for 
 the horror of their position was too fresh in their 
 minds. Still, lying down in the bunks rested them, 
 
 193
 
 194 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 It was six o'clock when Washington awoke. In 
 spite of the dangers of the icy grave, he had man- 
 aged to get a little sleep. He prepared breakfast 
 and called the others. 
 
 " Make a good meal," advised Mr. Henderson. 
 " We have plenty of work ahead of us." 
 
 " Are you going to free the ship? " asked Mark. 
 
 " I am going to try," was the answer. 
 
 A little later the inventor was busy in one of the 
 small store rooms aft when Jack came up. The 
 professor was carefully taking out a box labelled: 
 
 DYNAMITE ! DANGEROUS ! 
 
 " What are you going to do ? " asked the boy. 
 
 " I am going to try the same experiment we at- 
 tempted on the volcanic island," was the reply. 
 " Only, this time, I am afraid we shall have to 
 complete it to the end. There is little likelihood 
 of the ice falling apart." 
 
 " Then you are going to blow it up? " went on 
 Jack. 
 
 " That's what I hope to do," the inventor went 
 on. " I see no other way, and, though there is a 
 risk, it is not so great a one as to wait to be 
 crushed in the ice as it freezes more solidly." 
 
 Under the directions of Mr. Henderson they got 
 out the diving suits. The professor, the two boys
 
 THE SHIP GRAVEYARD 195 
 
 and Andy put them on. The dynamite, in spe- 
 cially preparel water-proof packages, with long 
 fuses was laid in readiness close to the door of the 
 diving chamber. 
 
 Into the cell, the four who were to make the 
 perilous journey under the ice, took their places. 
 The water was slowly admitted, and then, with the 
 electric lights in their helmets throwing out power- 
 ful gleams, they started forward as the outer door 
 swung open. 
 
 It was well they had all taken the precautions 
 to don thick undergarments and clothing, for, even 
 through the heavy rubber diving suits, the terrible 
 cold of the southern polar sea struck a chill to their 
 very bones. 
 
 As the professor had said, the ship was caught 
 between the upper and lower parts of the iceberg. 
 On either side, ahead and to the rear there was 
 open water. Beneath their feet there was a floor 
 of ice. It was as if they and the ship had been 
 placed between two great sheets of the frozen mat 
 ter. 
 
 Their progress was slow, for the water ham. 
 pered their movements and each one had some oi 
 the dynamite to carry. The footing, too, was in- 
 secure, for the icy bed of the ocean was slippery. 
 
 As they were huddled together, the professor 
 in the lead, and their lamps making a faint ilium-
 
 i 9 6 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 ination in the darkness, they suddenly became 
 aware of a great shadow over them. They looked 
 up, and their hearts nearly ceased beating as they 
 saw a gigantic sperm whale right over them, and 
 between the ice. The terrible animal had observed 
 them also, and, food being scarce in those frigid 
 regions, had evidently made up its mind to dine on 
 some choice morsels. 
 
 The whale was nearly as large again as the sub- 
 marine, and to the frightened voyagers seemed 
 more immense than a house. With slow motions 
 of the flukes the animal placed itself right over the 
 boys and men, ready to rush at and take them into 
 its terrible maw. 
 
 Old Andy, who alone seemed to retain his pres- 
 ence of mind, stepped to the front. The professor 
 and the boys wondered what he was going to do. 
 Then Andy held up one of the electric guns. 
 
 Always thinking of his chosen calling, the old 
 hunter had picked up the weapon as he was leav- 
 ing the Porpoise. He waited until the whale was 
 within a short distance, so close in fact that the 
 small eyes, out of all seeming proportion to 
 the rest of the big body, could be seen. Then 
 Andy fired one of the explosive bullets straight into 
 the open mouth that was fringed with rows of the 
 springy bone that is a part of a whale's eating 
 apparatus.
 
 THEY WERE IN THE MIDST OF A GRAVEYARD OF WRECKED SHIPS. 
 
 Page 200.
 
 THE SHIP GRAVEYARD 197 
 
 The shot took effect, and made a vital wound. 
 In its death struggles the beast lashed the ocean 
 to foam, and, but for the fact that Andy as soon 
 as he fired the shot crouched down, pulling the 
 others toward the floor of ice, they might all have 
 been killed. 
 
 The whale turned and made a rush in the op- 
 posite direction to that of the divers. This was a 
 welcome sign to the professor, for he knew the 
 animal was seeking open water and this told him it 
 must be somewhere in the vicinity. 
 
 Their hearts still beating loudly from the close- 
 ness of death, the adventurers continued their way. 
 On every side were fish, big and little, and, though 
 some of the larger ones thrust themselves to the 
 men and boys, as if wondering what strange crea- 
 tures they were, none of them offered to attack. 
 
 Led by the professor they made a complete cir- 
 cuit of the ship that was held fast in the ice. As 
 the inventor had surmised, the Porpoise was nipped 
 only above and below. If she could be freed at 
 either of those points she could rise to the surface, 
 or sink down under the ice. 
 
 After making a careful examination of the po- 
 sition of the craft, Mr. Henderson motioned to 
 have the dynamite placed on the ice, in front of, 
 and about two hundred feet away from the nose 
 of the ship.
 
 i 9 8 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 He connected the cartridges with the fuse ane) 
 wires that were to explode them, and then, taking 
 the free end, he started back toward the ship. 
 Washington was on the watch for them, and oper- 
 ated the diving chamber. Soon the four were 
 back in the Porpoise. 
 
 " Now to see if our plan will work," said Mr. 
 Henderson. " I am relying on the well known 
 downward force of dynamite to blow a hole in the 
 bottom part of the ice, so that we can drop below." 
 
 ;< Why not make a hole above so we can rise and 
 escape? " asked Bill. 
 
 " Because," replied the professor, " we are now 
 in the region of perpetual ice. The ocean above 
 us is one fast floe, or a number of smaller ones, 
 so that, in any event our progress would be impos- 
 sible. But we can sail far enough down under 
 water to escape all the ice. That is the purpose of 
 the Porpoise. That is why I built her. We will 
 now begin on the last part of our voyage; that is 
 if we can get free of the fearful grip of this sea of 
 ice." 
 
 There was little they could do to protect them- 
 selves. They would either escape or be blown to 
 pieces in case the explosive exerted too great a 
 force. They all put on life preservers to guard 
 against the contingency of the Porpoise being 
 ripped apart and themselves cast into the water, yet
 
 THE SHIP GRAVEYARD 199 
 
 they realized that without their ship, they could 
 live but a little while, in the ice-filled water near the 
 south pole. 
 
 The professor saw that everything was in readi- 
 ness. He hesitated a moment and looked at the 
 electric button in his hand, for this time the dyna- 
 mite was to be detonated by a battery. How much 
 might depend on one push of the finger 1 
 
 There was a slight movement to the muscles 
 of the professor's hand. Then it seemed as if a 
 thunderbolt had fallen into the midst of the ocean 
 about them. 
 
 There was a dull rumble, but the confined space 
 and the thick walls of the ship shut most of it out. 
 It was followed by a sickening dizzy motion to 
 the submarine. She seemed about to roll over 
 and those in her grabbed frantically at the sides. 
 The next instant the craft plunged down, down, 
 down, into the water which was filled with broken 
 cakes of ice, that rattled against the steel sides, like 
 peas in a pan. 
 
 Down and down the Porpoise went, for her 
 tanks were full. More and more rapidly she con- 
 tinued to sink, until it seemed she would fetch up 
 in the deepest cavern of the ocean. 
 
 " We's gwine t' Mars Davy Jones's locker, 
 suah ! " Washington exclaimed as he looked at the 
 depth gages.
 
 200 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 " Has the experiment succeeded? " asked Andy 
 of Mr. Henderson. 
 
 " I think so," was the answer. " At any rate 
 we are free from the ice, temporarily at least. We 
 are sinking down through the hole the dynamite 
 made, just as I hoped we would." 
 
 " Where will we end up? " asked Jack. 
 
 " No one knows," replied the captain. " But I 
 would say " 
 
 At that instant the ship stopped sinking and 
 brought up with a bump. 
 
 " I should say we were at the end of this part 
 of our journey," finished the inventor. 
 
 He turned off the cabin lights and lighted the 
 search lamps that threw a gleam so the water could 
 be looked at from the bull's-eyes windows. The 
 sight that met their gaze was an astonishing one. 
 
 They were in the midst of a graveyard of 
 wrecked ships, and, on every side, scattered over 
 the ocean bed, were the broken hulks that had once 
 been stately vessels.
 
 CHAPTER XXV 
 
 CAUGHT BY SEA SUCKERS 
 
 " WHAT sort of a place is this ? " asked Andy, 
 as he gazed at the last resting spot of the big ships. 
 
 " They have probably drifted here with the 
 ocean currents, become caught in the ice and have 
 remained here hundreds of years," said Mr. Hen- 
 derson. " Some of the ships are very old, and, by 
 their build must have sailed the waters centuries 
 ago." 
 
 " Maybe some of them are treasure ships," sug- 
 gested Jack. 
 
 " They might be," admitted the professor. 
 
 " Then we'll go aboard and get the gold," spoke 
 Mark. 
 
 " I'm afraid you'll be disappointed," went on 
 the inventor. " In the first place most treasure 
 ships are looted before they sink. And it would 
 be very dangerous for any of us to venture to ex- 
 plore those hulks." 
 
 "Why?" asked Jack. 
 
 " Because they are rotten, and liable to fall to 
 201
 
 202 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 pieces any minute. If you happened to be in one 
 at the time you would be caught in the wreckage 
 and eventually drowned even though you had on 
 a diving suit. Then, again, the ice here is con- 
 stantly shifting about, and a sudden motion of the 
 under-water floe might carry you hundreds of miles 
 away. So we will not try to hunt for any fortunes 
 on the sunken ships." 
 
 With this the boys were forced to be content. 
 They stood at the small windows looking at the 
 skeletons of ships that lay on every side of the 
 Porpoise. Some of the craft were big steamers, 
 and others were small sailing vessels. A few had 
 jagged holes in the hulls, showing how they had 
 been damaged. A few stood upright, with sails 
 all set, as if disaster had suddenly come upon them. 
 
 "Well, what is the next move?" asked Andy 
 after a pause. " Are we going to stay here? " 
 
 " We are going to find the South Pole," spoke 
 Mr. Henderson suddenly. " That is what I set 
 out to do, and I am going to accomplish it if possi- 
 ble. We have had many accidents and a harder 
 time in some respects than when we made our trip 
 to the north in the air ship. But I am sure we 
 shall succeed. Start the ship to the south, Wash- 
 ington." 
 
 " But we may run into an iceberg," objected the 
 old hunter, who was inclined to be cautious.
 
 CAUGHT BY SEA SUCKERS 203 
 
 " I think not," answered Mr. Henderson. " I 
 believe we are on a sort of level plane between two 
 vast upper and lower fields of ice. We can go 
 freely in any direction excepting up or down." 
 
 " How is that? " asked Mark. " I don't quite 
 understand." 
 
 " Because there is, I believe, a big sheet of ice 
 above us, one, say several hundred feet thick. The 
 same thing is below us, between us and the real 
 bed of the ocean." 
 
 " But suppose we have to go up to renew our air 
 supply? " asked Jack. 
 
 " We can't go," replied the inventor. 
 
 " Then we will die." 
 
 " Not necessarily. We will steam along until 
 we come to a place where there is no ice above us." 
 
 " But I thought you said there was nothing but 
 ice above us now." 
 
 " So there is, but I intend to head due south and 
 there, I believe, we will find an open polar sea. 
 If we do my theory will be proved and we will 
 have made a great discovery." 
 
 " Forward then ! " exclaimed Jack. " Let us 
 strike for the open sea." 
 
 The Porpoise began to move ahead. She 
 steamed slowly, for Mr. Henderson realized that 
 he was in dangerous waters. He took his position 
 in the conning tower, and had Jack with him to
 
 204 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 assist in looking for any obstructions that they 
 might unexpectedly meet. 
 
 The big searchlight gave a fine illumination, for 
 the ice above and below reflected back the beams, 
 and what would otherwise have been a sea of dark- 
 ness was made one of daylight. 
 
 The water swarmed with fish, but they were like 
 none that the adventurers had ever seen or dreamed 
 of before. There were monsters w'th hideous 
 heads, and eyes so large that they occupied nearly 
 half of the ugly bodies. 
 
 Then there were serpent-like forms, fish with 
 long slender bodies and whip-fashioned tails, with 
 jaws that extended before them for ten feet or 
 more. Others there were, great lumbering mon- 
 sters that crawled along on the ice, somewhat as 
 seals do. 
 
 After several hours' travel the submarine ran 
 into a school of fish that had shapes like those of 
 polar bears, while their heads were like those of 
 sharks. The creatures swarmed up to the side 
 of the vessel, and some scratched with their claw- 
 like fins on the glass windows of the conning tower 
 and the side bull's-eyes. 
 
 A meal was prepared by Washington, and all 
 the adventurers brought good appetites to the 
 table. On and on rushed the ship, every hour 
 coming nearer and nearer to the pole.
 
 CAUGHT BY SEA SUCKERS 205 
 
 Professor Henderson had turned the steering 
 of the craft over to Mark, who, with Jack as an 
 assistant was sending her along at a good speed, 
 when suddenly the submarine seemed to slacken in 
 her progress. 
 
 "What's the matter now I wonder?" asked 
 Mark. 
 
 " Maybe the engine bearings got hot, and Wash- 
 ington had to slow up to cool them," suggested 
 Jack. 
 
 He looked through one of the side windows in 
 the conning tower, a moment later, and uttered a 
 cry of fear. 
 
 "What is it? "asked Mark. 
 
 Jack pointed with a hand that trembled from 
 fright. Staring at them through the thick glass 
 of the bull's-eye the boys beheld the most hideous 
 sea monster they had yet encountered. 
 
 It seemed to be a vast circular mass of flesh, 
 twenty feet in diameter, and, in the middle were 
 two openings each three feet across. They were 
 like big holes, and, at the farther end of them 
 could be seen two unblinking eyes. In the centre 
 was a horrible mouth, armed with a triple row of 
 teeth. 
 
 Down below there was a short body, at the 
 end of which was a smaller disk, armed with a 
 sharp horny point.
 
 206 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 " What is it? " asked Jack in a whisper. 
 
 " I don't know," replied Mark. 
 
 A moment later Mr. Henderson came up the 
 companionway into the tower. He caught one 
 glimpse of the monster. 
 
 " It is the great sucker of the polar seas I " he 
 exclaimed. "Quick! Speed up the engine! If 
 that one, and the mates of it, fasten on to us we 
 will have trouble ! " 
 
 He pressed the signal that connected with the 
 engine room, and told Washington to start the 
 engine at its greatest power. The next instant the 
 ship throbbed and trembled under the vibrations 
 of the big screw. 
 
 " We may escape ! " cried the professor. 
 
 As he spoke the ship seemed to come to a sudden, 
 stop. The engine could still be felt moving, and 
 the big screw still churned the water to foam in 
 the tunnel, but the craft was stationary. 
 
 " We are caught ! " exclaimed the professor. 
 
 "So we are!" 
 
 The windows in the conning tower were dark- 
 ened. The big sucker had thrown itself forward 
 and spread itself over the glass, clasping its horri- 
 ble form half way about the submarine. 
 
 " Let's look at the other windows ! There may 
 be only one of the creatures ! " Mr. Henderson ex- 
 claimed, as he hurried down the companion way
 
 CAUGHT BY SEA SUCKERS 207 
 
 and into the main cabin. He threw back the slides 
 covering the glass. 
 
 The sight that met his eyes caused him to recoil 
 in horror. There, pressing their shapes against 
 the steel sides, and over the bull's-eyes of the ship 
 were two more of the gigantic suckers! 
 
 The ship had now ceased to move, and Wash- 
 ington, in the engine room, feeling that something 
 was wrong, had shut off the power. The adven- 
 turers were caught in a trap more terrible than that 
 of the ice, the volcanic mountain, or the Sargasso 
 Sea. It was a trap from which they might never 
 escape. 
 
 The suckers, thinking the submarine was per- 
 haps a species of fish, like themselves, and one 
 of their enemies, had fastened on it their fatal 
 vice-like grip. To move through the water, with 
 the weight of all that clinging flesh was impossile. 
 
 "What sort of creatures are they?" asked 
 Jack, speaking in a whisper, so great was the ter- 
 ror inspired by the presence of the gigantic sea 
 suckers. 
 
 " I never saw any of them before," replied the 
 professor, " but I have read about them. They 
 live only in the polar regions and are a species of 
 octupus, only more terrible. Their powers of 
 suction are enormous, and once they fasten on a 
 fish or animal they never let go until they have
 
 2o8 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 absorbed it completely. They act in the same way 
 that a star fish does on an oyster." 
 
 " But they can't eat the ship," said Jack. 
 
 " No, I fancy the steel and iron sides will pre- 
 vent them from making a meal of us." 
 
 " Then where is the danger? " 
 
 " They will not let go until they discover that 
 they cannot devour us, and it may take days. We 
 can only remain under water a comparatively short 
 time at the most. So you see where the danger 
 is." 
 
 " But can't we go out and kill them? Then 
 they would let go." 
 
 " It would be most risky to venture out, pro- 
 tected even with a diving suit, and carrying the 
 electric guns," the professor went on. " No, I 
 must think of some other plan to free ourselves 
 from the creatures." 
 
 " Blow 'em up wif dynamite an' send 'em inter 
 disproportionately contrastedable circumferences ! " 
 exclaimed Washington, who had been listening to 
 the conversation. 
 
 14 This isn't any time to joke," Mr. Henderson 
 said sternly. 
 
 " I wasn't joking," replied the colored man. 
 " Can't we squirt acid on 'em or chop 'em up, or 
 or" 
 
 " We can do nothing for the time being," said
 
 CAUGHT BY SEA SUCKERS 209 
 
 the professor. " Come, we will have a consulta- 
 tion on the subject. Perhaps some one may be 
 able to think of a plan of rescue." 
 
 " Let us hope so." 
 
 They all gathered in the cabin. The professof 
 explained the nature of the creatures, as far as he 
 knew them from what he had read or heard. He 
 pointed out, through the glass windows, over which 
 the suckers were still clinging, how they maintained 
 their grip, by exhausting, through their big mouths, 
 the air between their saucer-like surfaces and the 
 ship to which they were clinging. 
 
 " Can't we go out and fight 'em? " asked Andy, 
 who was always ready to use a gun. 
 
 " I doubt if we could get out," replied the pro- 
 fessor. " Though we can not see them, I believe 
 the creatures cover every part of the ship from 
 stem to stern. We could never open the door of 
 the diving chamber with that terrible sucker cover- 
 ing the iron portal." 
 
 " Maybe if we wait long enough a lot of sharks 
 will come along and eat 'em up," put in Jack. 
 
 " I am afraid sharks will not come to these 
 frozen waters," said the professor. " They like 
 a warm climate." 
 
 " And you don't think it would be feasible to 
 use dynamite," asked Mark. 
 
 " We can't get out to place it where it would
 
 210 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 blow up the fish and not us," answered Mr. Hen- 
 derson. " If we could it might serve." 
 
 A silence fell on the group. They were in sore 
 straits and there seemed no hope of rescue. The 
 big disk-like bodies that covered the windows did 
 not move, but remained there, staring with hor- 
 rible persistency into the interior of the ship.
 
 CHAPTER XXVI 
 
 LAND UNDER ICE 
 
 SUDDENLY the craft began to move. Slowly at 
 first, then, with more speed it forged ahead through 
 the water. 
 
 "Are we free?" asked Andy, starting up. 
 
 'Who started the machinery?" demanded the 
 professor. 
 
 " No one," replied Jack. " We are all here. 
 There is no one in the engine room." 
 
 " But we are moving," said Mark. 
 
 " It's dem sucker-fish ! " exclaimed Washington. 
 " Dey is takin' us off to der dens an' dere we'll 
 all be eat up 1 " 
 
 " I'm afraid part of it is true," said Mr. Hen- 
 derson. " The creatures are certainly making off 
 with us. 'How powerful they must be ! " 
 
 " Will dey take us to a cave ? " faltered Wash- 
 ington. " Will dey eat us up? " 
 
 " I don't think they'll eat us up," spoke the in- 
 ventor. " It would defy even their powerful 
 sucking apparatus to bore through the steel sides 
 of the Porpoise. What I am afraid of is that 
 
 211
 
 212 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 they may move us to some hidden depth where 
 we will be caught under the rocks or in the ice, 
 and so lose what little chance there is of getting 
 free." 
 
 " And the worst of it is we can't do a thing to 
 help ourselves ! " exclaimed Andy. " This is the 
 worst game I was ever up against ! " 
 
 The adventurers were indeed helpless. They 
 could not get out of their ship to attack the mon- 
 sters, even had they dared to. Their engine, 
 powerful as it was, had proved no match for the 
 creatures, and now they were being carried away, 
 ship and all, to some unknown place. 
 
 The ship did not go through the water fast. 
 Though the suckers seemed to be working in union 
 their bodies were too unwieldly, and the ship so 
 large, that their pace was slow. Nevertheless they 
 kept steadily on. 
 
 Several times, in their desperation, the adven- 
 turers tried the force of the big screw against that 
 of the suckers. It was of no avail. Neither was 
 the device of emptying the tanks, and trying to 
 force the craft up as far as the roof of ice would 
 permit it to go. 
 
 " It's of no use," announced Mr. Henderson 
 with something that sounded like a groan. " We 
 must prepare for the worst." 
 
 " How long can we live here without going to
 
 LAND UNDER ICE 213 
 
 the surface after a fresh supply of air?" asked 
 Bill. 
 
 " About three days," was the answer. " I took 
 the precaution to put a double supply into the 
 tanks, in readiness for an emergency, but I never 
 thought of such a terrible situation as this." 
 
 The submarine seemed to be moving more 
 rapidly now. It was useless to try to see through 
 either the windows in the side or in the conning 
 tower, for all the glass was covered by the horrible 
 bodies. 
 
 " What will they do with us when they get us 
 where they want us?" asked Andy. 
 
 " What can they do except hold us prisoners un- 
 til until " The professor broke off the sen- 
 tence he dared not finish. 
 
 For an hour or more the craft was moved 
 through the water at moderate speed. Then it 
 came to a stop. Those on board were alert for 
 what might happen next. 
 
 " I guess dey done got us in der cave," said 
 Washington with chattering teeth. " Now dey'll 
 begin to devour us wid dem terrible big mouths! 
 Golly, I wish I was home ! " 
 
 " Stop that nonsense ! " exclaimed Mr. Hender- 
 son. " Be a man ! There is no danger yet. The 
 sides of the Porpoise will defy worse enemies than 
 those attacking us I "
 
 an THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 At that instant the ship began to move again. 
 It was hauled slowly through the water. 
 
 " They are pulling us backward ! " said Andy, 
 as he watched the needle of the compass. 
 
 Once more the submarine was stopped. Then 
 it moved forward at a more rapid pace than at 
 any time since the suckers had seized it. An in- 
 stant later it brought up against some solid object 
 with such a jar that those inside were thrown off 
 their feet. 
 
 " Something has hit us ! " cried Jack. 
 
 " More likely we've struck something," said the 
 professor. 
 
 Again the ship forged to the rear, and once again 
 it was sent swiftly ahead. Then came the second 
 shock, harder than the first, which sent some of the 
 party headlong. 
 
 " They are banging us against a rock ! " cried 
 Mr. Henderson. 
 
 " Do you mean those sea suckers ? " 
 
 " Yes. They have probably found that the 
 shell of the Porpoise is too hard even for their 
 powerful jaws. So they have taken us to some 
 place where the rocks show and are banging us 
 against them in order to break the ship, so they 
 can get at what is inside." 
 
 Once more the ship was drawn backward and 
 again dashed against the stone. The shock was a
 
 LAND UNDER ICE 215 
 
 hard one and toppled over all who were not cling- 
 ing to something. 
 
 " They are ramming us bow on against the 
 rocks," cried Andy. " It will break us apart if 
 they hit us many more times ! " 
 
 Washington hurried forward. He came back 
 with his eyes showing terror. 
 
 " There's a lot of rocks right ahead ob us ! " he 
 exclaimed. " I see 'em through th' little window 
 jest above th' screw. There's land under this here 
 water! " 
 
 " Land under this ice do you mean? " asked the 
 professor. 
 
 " That's what I mean, an' we's bein' rammed 
 agin th' rocks ! " 
 
 " There it goes again ! " cried Jack, as the ship 
 shivered from stem to stern against the impact of 
 the blow. 
 
 ' This can not last long," said Mr. Hender- 
 son. "If they strike us many more times some 
 of the places will start, the water will come in, and 
 we will drown! " 
 
 " But what can we do? " asked Jack. 
 
 " Let's go out now and see if we can't kill some 
 of the beasts with the guns," suggested Andy. 
 
 " I cannot permit it," answered the inventor. 
 " Our position is bad enough as it is, but to go out 
 would be to lose our lives for a certainty. The
 
 216 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 suckers would swallow us up in a moment. I must 
 find some other way." 
 
 There was a period of silence, while all waited 
 anxiously for what was to happen next. It was 
 not long in coming. The next impact of the ship 
 against the rocks was the hardest yet, and it seemed 
 that more of the suckers must have gripped the 
 craft. 
 
 " She's leakin' a little ! " exclaimed Washington 
 coming back from an inspection forward. " De 
 water am tricklin' in ! " 
 
 " We must fight them ! " exclaimed Andy. He 
 ran to get a gun and his diving suit. 
 
 " Don't try to go out! " warned the professor. 
 " You will surely be killed." 
 
 " I'd rather be killed out there than die shut 
 up in the ship!" cried the old hunter. "I'm 
 going out ! " 
 
 "Wait!" exclaimed Jack suddenly. "I have 
 a plan that may save us ! " 
 
 " What is it? Speak quickly! " said Mr. Hen- 
 derson. " We are in desperate straits ! " 
 
 As he spoke there came another crash against 
 the rocks. 
 
 " We must electrocute the suckers ! " cried the 
 boy. 
 
 " Electrocute them? What do you mean? " 
 
 " Take the wires from the electric light circuit,
 
 LAND UNDER ICE 217 
 
 attach one to each end of the ship, and start the 
 dynamo at full speed! " answered Jack. 
 
 "What good will that do?" 
 
 " The ship is steel," went on the boy. " It will 
 become charged with a powerful current. We 
 can insulate ourselves by putting on rubber boots, 
 but the shock of the electricity will kill the crea- 
 tures ! " 
 
 "Good for you!" exclaimed Mr. Henderson. 
 " Quick boys, everybody lend a hand ! Washing- 
 ton, detach the wires and run one to the bow and 
 the other to the stern of the ship. Then get out 
 the boots." 
 
 In a few minutes the dynamo was ready to send 
 a death-dealing current through the entire ship. 
 The professor and all the others put on the boots, 
 that were a part of the diving equipment. The 
 dynamo was started at full speed and the purring 
 hum told that electricity of great power was being 
 developed. 
 
 The professor stood with his hand on a switch, 
 ready to close the circuit as soon as sufficient power 
 had accumulated. Once more the suckers backed 
 the ship in order to give it impetus for another 
 impact on the stones. 
 
 Click! The professor snapped the switch shut. 
 There was a burst of bluish-green flame, and the 
 movement of the boat suddenly ceased.
 
 218 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 " I guess that does for 'em ! " shouted Andy. 
 
 " Wait a few minutes," advised the professor. 
 " The suckers may not all be dead yet ! " 
 
 He kept the current flowing throughout the 
 length of the ship for several minutes, and then 
 turned it off. 
 
 " Now to see if the plan worked," he said. The 
 windows in the cabin were eagerly scanned. 
 
 "Hurrah!" cried Mark. "The suckers have 
 gone ! " 
 
 " I guess the electricity killed them," spoke Mr. 
 Henderson. " We will venture out now in our 
 diving suits and see what sort of a place we arc 
 in." 
 
 Soon the adventurers were arrayed in the heavy 
 suits. Under them they wore thick clothing, and 
 in each suit was placed a small flat heater, operated 
 by a storage battery. The heaters were made of 
 coils of fine wires, and the electric current, meet- 
 ing with much resistance in passing through them, 
 heated the coils, so there was considerable warmth. 
 
 It was all needed as they found when they felt 
 the water entering the diving chamber, for the 
 fluid was as cold as an ocean full of icebergs could 
 make it. Protected however by the heavy suits, 
 warm clothing and the heaters the divers were 
 fairly comfortable. 
 
 The outer door was opened and they all started
 
 LAND UNDER ICE 219 
 
 back in amazement at the sight which met their 
 eyes. Before them lay a forest of real trees, with 
 bushes growing among them, while the ground, 
 instead of being like the usual ocean bed was 
 covered with grass. 
 
 As Washington had said, on getting a small view 
 of the place from the little window, it was real 
 land under water. 
 
 Their first surprise at the strange spectacle over, 
 the adventurers glanced about for a sight of the 
 terrible sea suckers. But they need not have 
 feared. Lying in a huddled up mass toward the 
 rear of the Porpoise were the dead bodies of the 
 ugly creatures. The electricity had finished them.
 
 CHAPTER XXVII 
 
 ATTACKED BY AN OCTOPUS 
 
 THEY walked some distance away from the 
 ship, for the land under the water was easy to 
 travel on. It looked exactly as if some beautiful 
 valley had suddenly been submerged in the middle 
 of summer, when everything was fresh and green. 
 
 They had gone perhaps a quarter of a mile from 
 the Porpoise when Professor Henderson motioned 
 to them that they had better return. On their 
 way back they passed what looked to be a large 
 cave in the side of a hill. Wondering what could 
 be in it, Mark and Jack paused to peer into the 
 black opening. 
 
 The next instant two long white things, like 
 slender serpents shot out. With the rapidity of 
 lightning they wrapped themselves, one about each 
 boy, and, before the horrified companions of the 
 lads could do anything the unfortunate youths were 
 whisked out of sight into the cavern. 
 
 For a few seconds no one knew what to do. To 
 rush in to the rescue of the boys would have been 
 foolhardy, as the terrible octupus, which they knew 
 
 220
 
 ATTACKED BY AN OCTOPUS 221 
 
 had grabbed the lads, would have been a match 
 for all of the adventurers, unarmed as they were. 
 
 It would be necessary to return to the ship and 
 come back with some of the electric guns, which 
 they had neglected to bring with them. In the 
 meanwhile the beast might, and probably would, 
 kill Mark and Jack. But there was nothing else 
 to do. 
 
 The professor motioned for Andy to remain 
 on the watch at the mouth of the cavern, so as to 
 be on hand in case he could help the boys, while 
 the others were hurrying toward the ship. Then, 
 leading the way the Professor signalled for Tom 
 and Bill to follow him. 
 
 They could not hurry much for the heavy suits 
 and the resistance of the water impeded their 
 progress. But they made all the speed they could, 
 urged on by a terrible fear. 
 
 Meanwhile old Andy stood in front of the cave, 
 hoping against hope that there might be some way 
 of aiding the boys. If it had happened above 
 water he would not have hesitated to rush in and 
 give battle to the beast, even though he was un- 
 armed. If he had his knife now he would venture 
 in, at the risk of his life. 
 
 "Oh, why didn't I bring my gun along!" 
 thought Andy regretfully. 
 
 His hand dropped to his side and his fingers
 
 222 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 came in contact with a big knife in the belt of the 
 diving suit. Here was a weapon he had forgot- 
 ten all about. 
 
 He drew forth the blade. It seemed a small 
 one with which to attack so large and terrible a 
 creature as the octupus. Yet to remain there, 
 knowing the boys were being killed was more than 
 old Andy could stand. Grasping the handle with 
 a firm grip he started toward the cave. His foot 
 caught in something, and he nearly fell. 
 
 Looking down to see what had tripped him he 
 saw a long thin pole, straight as a lance. It had 
 once been a tree limb, but all the branches were 
 stripped off. 
 
 " Now if I only had an iron point for that," 
 Andy thought. Then he recollected the knife in 
 his hand. 
 
 " The very thing," he remarked aloud, the 
 words sounding startlingly loud in the confinement 
 of the copper helmet. " If I only had something 
 to fasten the knife on the pole I could make a 
 spear to attack the octupus." 
 
 Then he saw long streamers of sea weed grow- 
 ing up from the ocean bed. They were very 
 tough, a kind of wirey grass that was as strong as 
 rope. Andy cut several streamers and, with a 
 hunter's skill bound the knife to the end of the 
 staff.
 
 ATTACKED BY AN OCTOPUS 223 
 
 Now he had a weapon formidable enough to 
 venture in and give battle to the monster. He 
 hesitated no longer, fearing that even the short 
 delay might have been too much and that the boys 
 were dead. He entered the cave. At first he 
 could perceive nothing for it was quite dark. 
 Then, as his eyes became used to the gloom, which 
 the lamp in his helmet faintly illuminated, he saw, 
 far back in the rear, the horrible octupus. 
 
 Two dark objects, around which were wrapped 
 several folds of the terrible arms, Andy guessed 
 to be Mark and Jack, and when he was a faint 
 glow coming from them he was sure they were the 
 boys, the gleams coming from the lamps in their 
 helmets. 
 
 Warily the hunter approached the creature. If 
 he had hoped to take it unawares he was disap- 
 pointed, for, when he had come within ten feet, 
 holding his improvised lance outstretched ready 
 for a deadly thrust, the creature shot out two long 
 arms toward Andy. 
 
 Now the battle began. The snake-like feelers, 
 armed with big saucer shaped suckers, lashed 
 about in the water, seeking to clasp the hunter in 
 their deadly embrace. But Andy, who had fought 
 many kinds of wild animals on land, did not lose 
 his presence of mind in confronting this beast of 
 the sea.
 
 224 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 Nimbly, in spite of the handicap of the heavy 
 diving suit, Andy dodged the arms. Watching 
 his chance he thrust at one, and the sharp knife 
 severed the end. But another arm shot out, while 
 the wounded one was drawn in, and the battle was 
 as much against the old hunter as before. 
 
 Once more he thrust his lance, and this time he 
 severed one of the arms close to the ugly body. 
 The creature, in its rage and pain, redoubled its 
 efforts to clasp Andy. 
 
 The hunter decided to try to get to closer quar- 
 ters where he could use his spear on the body of 
 the beast. He stooped down and wiggled along 
 on the bottom of the cave. But the creature saw 
 him, and darted an arm out to pull the old man 
 in. Andy squirmed to one side, and then, being 
 as close as he desired, he rose to his feet and, 
 drawing back the pole thrust it with all his force 
 straight at the centre of the whitish-yellow body 
 that was like a horrible lump of soft fat directly 
 in front of him. 
 
 At the first touch of the knife the creature 
 squirted out an inky substance that made the water 
 about it as black as night. Andy could not see, 
 but he could feel that the lance was still in the 
 body. He pulled it back a little and thrust again 
 and again, turning it around to enlarge the wound 
 he had made.
 
 ATTACKED BY AN OCTOPUS 225 
 
 Then, what he had feared all along happened. 
 Two of the creatures arms found him, and he felt 
 the terrible pressure as they wound themselves 
 about him, the sucker-plates clinging fast. Yet in 
 it all he did not lose his presence of mind, nor did 
 he let go of the pole. 
 
 Tighter and tighter the arms clasped him. He 
 struggled with all his strength but he was in a 
 grip more powerful than that of a boa constrictor. 
 Suddenly the pole he was holding snapped off. He 
 let go the useless end and pulled the shorter partj 
 to which the knife was bound, toward him. Andy 
 felt his senses beginning to leave him, but he de- 
 termined to make one more effort. 
 
 One hand was free, that holding the knife. 
 With his last remaining strength he cut and slashed 
 at the arms of the creature that were clasped about 
 him. 
 
 Again and again he stuck the blade into the 
 gristle like substance. Could he win? Could he 
 save his own life, to say nothing of that of the two 
 boys? 
 
 The creature was lashing about now so that the 
 water was a mass of black foam. The ink-color 
 was beginning to fade away. Andy could dimly 
 observe the horrible front of the octupus, and see 
 the wound his lance had made. Then all seemed 
 to grow dark again. He dimly remembered try-
 
 226 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 ing to thrust the knife into one of the saucer- 
 shaped eyes, and then of a sudden his senses left 
 him. 
 
 When Andy came to his senses he found him- 
 self lying on the ocean bed just outside the cave. 
 About him stood the professor, Washington, Tom 
 and Bill. His head buzzed and he felt weak, but 
 he knew he was uninjured, and that his diving suit 
 had not been punctured in the fight with the octu- 
 pus, for he could feel the fresh air entering from 
 the tank at the back of his helmet. 
 
 Were the boys killed, Andy wondered. Had 
 his fight to save them been in vain ? He managed 
 to stand up, and then, to. his relief he saw Mark 
 and Jack standing behind Tom and Bill. The 
 boys seemed weak but otherwise uninjured. 
 
 The professor motioned to know if Andy could 
 walk and the old hunter soon demonstrated that 
 he could by stepping forward. Then the party 
 proceeded slowly to the ship. 
 
 Little time was lost by each one in divesting 
 himself of his diving suit as soon as they had left 
 the water chamber. The first thing Andy asked 
 when his hemlet was off, was: 
 
 "Did I kill the beast?" 
 
 " Indeed you did," replied the professor. 
 " And just in time, too. You were about done for 
 when we came back with the guns, but they were
 
 ATTACKED BY AN OCTOPUS 227 
 
 not needed. My ! But you must have had a ter- 
 rible fight!" 
 
 " I did, while it lasted," said the hunter. " But 
 were the boys hurt? " 
 
 " They can speak for themselves," replied Mr. 
 Henderson. " I guess not, though." 
 
 " Having the wind almost squeezed out of us 
 was the worst that happened," said Mark. ' The 
 octupus must have recently dined when it grabbed 
 us, for it didn't offer to eat us. And it didn't 
 grip us as tightly as it might have cr I reckon we 
 wouldn't have come out alive. I thought sure we 
 were going to be killed, however." 
 
 " So did I," put in Jack. 
 
 " I don't want any more such fights this trip," 
 said Andy with a weak smile.
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII 
 
 OUT OF THE ICE 
 
 WORN out with their encounter with the octu- 
 pus, Andy and the boys were glad to take to their 
 bunks. The others, too, who were weary from 
 traveling under water, felt the need of rest, and 
 so it was decided to let the ship remain stationary 
 down on the bottom of the ocean for several hours 
 before going on further. 
 
 " When we get rested up we'll have a good meal, 
 and then try to gain the surface of the ocean," said 
 the professor. 
 
 There was quiet on board the Porpoise for a 
 long time. Washington was the first to awake and 
 he at once set about getting a meal. When it was 
 ready he called the professor, and, one after an- 
 other all the adventurers rose from their bunks 
 and refreshed themselves with hot coffee, bacon, 
 eggs and preserves, all prepared from condensed 
 foods, of which a large supply had been brought. 
 
 " Now to see if we can make our way upward 
 through the ice," announced Mr. Henderson, 
 
 228
 
 OUT OF THE ICE 229 
 
 ' We ought to be far enough south to strike the 
 Open polar see which I believe exists." 
 
 The engine was started after the small leaks in 
 the bow, caused by the ramming of the boat on 
 the rocks, had been stopped up, and the professor, 
 entering the conning tower, turned her due south. 
 
 The screw vibrated in the tunnel, the water 
 rushed out in a big stream, the engines and dyna- 
 mos hummed, and the hearts of all were lightened 
 as they knew they were nearing the goal of their 
 journey. 
 
 Several hours passed and the professor, who 
 was keeping watch of the gages noted they had 
 covered more than one hundred miles. As the 
 supply of compressed air was getting low Mr. Hen- 
 derson, not wanting to run any chances, decided 
 to make an attempt to reach the surface and re- 
 fill the tanks. 
 
 Accordingly the water tanks were emptied of 
 their ballast, the rudder was set to force the ship 
 to the surface, and soon the depth gage showed a 
 constantly decreasing amount of water over the 
 heads of the adventurers. 
 
 " Now, if we don't hit the ice above us we'll be 
 all right," spoke Mr. Henderson. " We are 
 within fifteen feet of the surface." 
 
 Hardly had he ceased speaking when the Po* 
 poise brought up against something with a bump
 
 230 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 that jarred everyone. Then the submarine went 
 scraping along, hitting the conning tower every 
 now and then. 
 
 " Not clear of the ice yet," said Mr. Hender- 
 son. " We must go down a little and try again." 
 
 The tanks were filled with enough water to keep 
 the boat about fifty feet under the surface, and at 
 that depth she was sent ahead at full speed. The 
 professor's face wore an anxious look, and when 
 Washington asked him if it was not time to re- 
 plenish the air supply of the boat the inventor told 
 the colored man to be very sparing of the contents 
 of the compressing tanks. 
 
 " I'm afraid we are not as near the open sea as 
 I at first thought," Mr. Henderson finished. 
 
 On and on rushed the Porpoise. The engines 
 were kept at full speed, and after two hours of 
 this fast run another attempt was made to reach 
 the surface. Once more the thick ice intervened. 
 
 " Guess we'll have to blast our way out," ob- 
 served Andy. " We seem to have lots of trouble 
 on this trip." 
 
 " Why not try to ram your way through," sug- 
 gested Jack. 
 
 " How do you mean? " asked Mr. Henderson. 
 
 " I mean to sink the boat say two hundred feet. 
 Then start her up obliquely and perhaps the sharp 
 prow will cut a hole through the ice."
 
 OUT OF THE ICE 231 
 
 " Hardly through ice fifteen feet or more thick," 
 said the captain despondently. 
 
 11 But it may be thinner now," persisted Jack. 
 
 " At any rate it will do no harm to try," the in- 
 ventor admitted. : ' We can not last much longer 
 down here." 
 
 Again the tanks were filled, and by the aid of 
 the deflecting rudder the Porpoise went down into 
 the depths. Then the ballast tanks were quickly 
 emptied, and the rudder turned so as to force the 
 craft upward on a slant. The engine was set go- 
 ing at top speed. 
 
 " Hold fast everybody ! " called the professor. 
 " It is kill or cure this trip ! " 
 
 Like an arrow from a bow the Porpoise shot 
 upward. On and on it speed, gathering momen- 
 tum with every foot she traveled. 
 
 Suddenly there came a terrible crash, a grind- 
 ing sound and a rending and tearing. The ship 
 trembled from end to end. Every one was 
 knocked from his feet. There were bumpings and 
 scrapings all along the sides of the submarine. 
 Then, with one final spurt of speed, the little ship 
 tore her way through the ice and emerged, with a 
 splash and shower of foam into the open sea! 
 
 Quickly the man hole was opened and, half dead 
 from lack of fresh air, the adventurers crawled out 
 on deck. It was night and the stars glittered in
 
 232 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 the sky above. They were just beyond the edge 
 of the ice field, and all about them was a wide open 
 sea. 
 
 " I was right after all," said the professor, " but 
 I miscalculated the distance. Had we gone on a 
 few feet farther it would not have been necessary 
 to break through the ice." 
 
 " I guess it's a lucky thing we didn't try it be- 
 fore either," remarked Andy. " We never could 
 have bored through fifteen feet of the frozen stuff. 
 Where we plowed up it is less than two feet," and 
 he pointed to where the immense floe came to an 
 end. 
 
 It was decided to go no farther that night, how- 
 ever, as the professor wanted to take some observa- 
 tions by daylight and ascertain his position. So 
 filling their lungs with the air, cold and piercing 
 though it was, the adventurers descended to their 
 cabin, and lots were drawn to see who would stand 
 the two night watches. It fell to Mr. Hender- 
 son to take the first, and Washington the second. 
 The captain accordingly took up his position in 
 the conning tower and prepared to pass several 
 hours. 
 
 He was busy thinking over the exciting times he 
 and his companions had passed through, and plan- 
 ning new trips to see more wonders of the world, 
 when his attention was .attracted by slight noise
 
 OUT OF THE ICE 233 
 
 near the man hole leading to the amldship com- 
 panionway. 
 
 The professor looked up, and was startled to 
 see a tall white object, with outstretched arms ad- 
 vancing toward him with slow and stealthy tread. 
 ' The ghost again ! " exclaimed the inventor 
 softly. " I must catch it now, and see what fool- 
 ishness it is," for the professor did not believe in 
 spirits. 
 
 He got down on his hands and knees the better 
 to escape observation, should the white thing prove 
 to be a bodily substance, and started to crawl 
 toward it. He came within ten feet of the thing, 
 and could make out that it was a man, or at least 
 the semblance of one, all clothed in white. 
 
 Nearer and nearer the inventor crawled to the 
 thing. It turned to face him now and Mr. Hen- 
 derson could not help feeling startled as he saw 
 the object had no head. The neck ended in a 
 white stump. 
 
 In spite of a little feeling of qualmishness, which 
 even his boasted disbelief in ghosts did not save 
 him from, Mr. Henderson was about to spring 
 upon the thing and solve the mystery. 
 
 At that instant, however, Washington, who was 
 coming on deck to take up his watch, appeared at 
 the head of the companionway, and caught sight 
 of the terrible object.
 
 234 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 The yells of the colored man as he dove down- 
 ward and back into the cabin, aroused the ship. 
 Determined to solve the mystery, in spite of every- 
 thing, the professor made a leap forward. He 
 slipped, and tumbled down the iron stairway. At 
 the same time, the ghost, with a blood curdling yell, 
 leaped over the professor's back, and disappeared 
 down the stairs of the conning tower. 
 
 In an instant the crew were rushing from their 
 bunk rooms, seeking a meaning for the disturbance, 
 
 " It was the ghost again," explained the pro- 
 fessor as he picked himself up, not much the worse 
 for his tumble. " I tried to catch it, but I didn't. 
 Come, Washington, it is your turn to stand watch." 
 
 " Not to-night," said Washington firmly. 
 
 It was no use to urge him, so Jack good na- 
 turedly stood Washington's trick. Nothing fur- 
 ther however occurred that night. 
 
 In the morning the professor made several ob- 
 servations and found that he was within one hun- 
 dred and fifty miles of the south pole. 
 
 " We'll make it to-morrow, if we have luck," 
 he said.
 
 CHAPTER XXIX 
 
 THE BOILING WATER 
 
 THE hours passed and the strange voyage con- 
 tinued. 
 
 The Porpoise traveled along at good speed, and 
 the professor devoted most of his time to looking 
 after the different scientific instruments and gages, 
 for they were nearing the south pole. The deflect- 
 ing compass, which when it came directly over the 
 place corresponding to the pole, would point 
 straight up and down, was assuming more and more 
 of a perpendicular position. 
 
 " We are getting there ! " exclaimed the pro- 
 fessor with delight. " A few hours more and we 
 will have won the goal ! " 
 
 There was considerable excitement on board 
 when the professor's announcement was made. 
 Though few of the adventurers cared as much for 
 the scientific achievement as did Mr. Henderson, 
 they were all glad he was about to succeed. To 
 most of them the locating of the south pole was no 
 different from visiting some new country, except- 
 
 235
 
 236 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 ing that there were more adventures than on most 
 voyages. 
 
 At dusk the Porpoise went to the surface and 
 during the night traveled along atop of the bil- 
 lows. In the morning she dived below again. 
 The engine was started at high speed and the de- 
 flecting needle dipped still more. 
 
 " We's gittin' dar!" exclaimed Washington as 
 he oiled the various bearings of the machinery. 
 
 Breakfast was served and hurridly eaten, for the 
 excitement was telling on every one. After the 
 meal had been cleared away they all sat in the 
 darkened cabin looking out at the water as it 
 slipped past the glass windows. Big and little 
 fish swam up and peered into the bull's-eyes and 
 then darted away. 
 
 " That's sort of queer," remarked Jack a little 
 later. 
 
 " What is? " asked Mark, who was sitting near 
 his chum. 
 
 " All the fish seem to have suddenly disap- 
 peared," replied Jack. " There were hundreds a 
 little while ago, and now I haven't seen one look- 
 ing in the windows for some time." 
 
 " Perhaps there's a big fish on their trail," ob- 
 served Mark. " That's what makes 'em take to 
 the deep sea-weed." 
 
 " Maybe so," replied Jack.
 
 THE BOILING WATER 237 
 
 A little later Professor Henderson entered the 
 room. He went over, looked at the thermometer, 
 and then called to Washington: 
 
 " Have you got the heat turned on? " 
 
 " No, sah ! I ain't done truned on no super- 
 heated vapor into de radiators," replied the colored 
 man. " I were jest thinkin' dat we'd hit de south 
 pole by de feel of it." 
 
 " It is getting strangely warm," admitted Mr. 
 Henderson. 
 
 " Ain't that what you expected at the south 
 pole ? " asked Andy. " I thought it was hot at 
 the south pole and cold at the north." 
 
 " That's what lots of people imagine," said the 
 professor, " but except for the open sea, which I 
 have proved does exist, I guess it's just as cold 
 at the south as at the north, especially in the win- 
 ter. We have struck the summer season." 
 
 " And a mighty warm one at that," observed 
 Jack. " Whew I I've got to take off my coat." 
 
 Indeed it was getting uncomfortably warm in 
 the ship, and the adventurers who had dressed in 
 thick clothing to guard against the rigors of ths 
 icy climate, soon had to lay aside many of their 
 garments. 
 
 " No wonder ! " exclaimed Mr. Henderson, as 
 he looked at a thermometer. " It is eighty de- 
 grees in here I "
 
 238 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 " Worse than workin* in a hay field," observed 
 Bill, as he wiped the beads of perspiration from 
 his forehead. 
 
 " Let us see what sort of water we are traveling 
 through," suggested the professor, as he again 
 turned off the lights in the cabin so that a view 
 could be had from the bull's-eyes. 
 
 Wondering what would meet their gaze the ad- 
 venturers peered out of the small circular windows. 
 At first they could hardly believe their eyes. 
 
 There, right before them, the sea was bubbling 
 as if it was an immense tea kettle. Steam formed 
 on the glass, and big clouds of vapor could be 
 seen. The atmosphere of the cabin became almost 
 unbearable. 
 
 " We are in the midst of a boiling hot ocean ! " 
 cried the professor. 
 
 "Are we sailing through hot water?" asked 
 Andy. 
 
 " I should say so, from the feel of it," answered 
 Mr. Henderson. " Put your hand on the side of 
 the cabin." 
 
 Andy laid his fingers against the steel plates. 
 He drew back. 
 
 " I burned myself! " he exclaimed. 
 
 "What are we to do?" cried Jack. 
 
 " Get out of this by all means! " exclaimed the 
 inventor. " If we stay in this hot ocean we will
 
 THE BOILING WATER 239 
 
 be boiled alive like fishes in a pot. Send the 
 ship up, Washington ! " 
 
 Indeed it was high time. The thermometer 
 marked one hundred and ten degress, and was ris- 
 ing. The interior of the Porpoise was like that 
 of a steam laundry three times heated. Stripped 
 to their undergarments the adventurers were 
 obliged to lie down on the floor of the cabin where 
 it was a little cooler. 
 
 It was all Washington could do, used as colored 
 people are to the heat, to go into the engine room, 
 and start the machinery that emptied the tanks, so 
 as to allow the ship to mount to the surface. 
 
 The Porpoise began to rise slowly, and to the 
 suffering men and boys it seemed that she never 
 went up so reluctantly. The heat was becoming 
 unbearable. They could hear the water bubbling 
 even through the steel sides of the submarine.
 
 CHAPTER XXX 
 
 CONCLUSION 
 
 COULD they live to reach the surface? was the 
 thought in the mind of every one. The heat was 
 terrific. They were breathing in gasps. Pro- 
 fessor Henderson went to the water tank, thinking 
 to throw some of the fluid over himself and his 
 companions, but he found it so warm that it almost 
 burned his hand. 
 
 " Keep up your courage ! " exclaimed the in- 
 ventor. " We will soon be at the top ! " 
 
 Almost as he spoke the Porpoise bounded from 
 the waves, and fell back in a splash of foam on the 
 surface of the billows. They were at the surface. 
 
 The professor rushed for the manhole and soon 
 opened it. He crawled out on the deck, followed 
 by the others. They breathed in deep breaths of 
 the fresh air. 
 
 The submarine continued to sail on. Every 
 minute the sea seemed to boil more violently, un- 
 til at last the waves were covered with a cloud of 
 steam, through which it was difficult to observe 
 where they were going. 
 
 240
 
 THE SOUTH POLE 341 
 
 " Hadn't we better turn back," suggested Mark. 
 
 " Our only hope is to press on," replied Mr. 
 Henderson. '* We may cross this zone of boiling 
 water soon." 
 
 He went into the conning tower to make an ob- 
 servation. He came on the deck the next minute, 
 very much excited. 
 
 "What's the matter?" Are we sinking?" 
 asked Andy. 
 
 " We are directly over the south pole ! " ex- 
 claimed the professor. " We have reached the 
 goal 1 We have come to the spot hundreds of men 
 have tried to reach! It has been left for us to 
 succeed. Look at the deflecting needle I " 
 
 They crowded into the conning tower to note it. 
 The slender hand of steel stood straight up and 
 down, indicating that the ship was over the south 
 pole, one of the two chief centres of magnetism of 
 the earth. 
 
 " If we only dared stop to make some scientific 
 notes and observations," said the professor, " we 
 could render much valuable aid to the seekers after 
 truth. But it would be sure death to stay in the 
 boiling water! " 
 
 " I guess we'd better be getting out of this if we 
 want to reach home alive," spoke Andy. 
 
 Indeed they were all suffering very much, for 
 the heat from the water was awful.
 
 242 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 " Speed her up, Washington 1 " called the pro- 
 fessor. " We must get out of here 1 " 
 
 " Which way shall I steer? " asked the colored 
 man. 
 
 " Straight ahead. We are now bound north! " 
 
 " Bound north! " cried Jack. 
 
 " Certainly," answered the professor. " We 
 have passed over the exact spot where the south 
 pole is. The deflecting needle is beginning to tilt 
 again. The compass is indicating a northerly di- 
 rection. You know that after you go as far south 
 as you can, you have to begin to go back north. 
 Well, we have gone as far south as we can. Now 
 we are going north. We have turned the south- 
 ern end of the globe, and are on our way back." 
 
 For several hours the Porpoise continued along 
 on top of the water. By degrees, as they left 
 the vicinity of the boiling ocean, it became cooler. 
 The water ceased to seeth and bubble, and Jack 
 found, on experiment, that he could bear his hand 
 in it. 
 
 " Hurrah! " he cried, " we are safe now." 
 
 " Next we'll have to prepare to freeze to death," 
 spoke Mark. " It's either one extreme or the 
 other this trip. But we've had lots of fun and 
 excitement." 
 
 " Plenty of the last," agreed Jack. 
 
 On and on went the submarine. Once it was
 
 THE SOUTH POLE 243 
 
 out of the range of the terrible heated zone, the 
 atmosphere rapidly cooled, until the adventurers 
 were glad to don their heavy garments again. 
 
 ' This marks the ending of the first half of the 
 voyage," announced the professor. " Now we 
 are going back. We have accomplished some- 
 thing no other living man has done and I am 
 proud of it. Proud of all of you, and proud of 
 the ship ! " 
 
 Several hours later, when it was deemed safe, 
 the Porpoise was sunk beneath the waves, and 
 once more more she speeded along through the 
 water at a fast speed. The ship seemed to know 
 she was going home, for never had she made bet- 
 ter time. 
 
 ' We have solved every problem that we met," 
 said the professor while he, with Jack and Mark, 
 were in the conning tower, as Washington was 
 preparing a meal. 
 
 " Except two," said Jack. 
 
 "What are they?" 
 
 " The ghost of the submarine, and the identity 
 of the anarchists who blew up the Easton hotel." 
 
 " Perhaps both riddles may be solved before we 
 get back to Maine," answered Mr. Henderson. 
 
 They both were, sooner, and in stranger ways 
 than either of the boys expected. That night it 
 was Jack's first watch on deck. The ship was
 
 244 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 speeding on, and by the air the boy knew they 
 were approaching icebergs. At midnight a 
 strange and sudden chill in the air made him look 
 up. 
 
 Almost dead ahead was a big berg. He quickly 
 shut off the engine, and narrowly avoided a col- 
 lision. Then happening to glance back he saw, 
 standing near the companionway leading down into 
 the man-hole a ghostly white shape. 
 
 " I'll find out what you are this time, or go 
 overboard with you," said Jack to himself, clench- 
 ing his teeth. He crawled along the deck until 
 he thought he was within leaping distance of the 
 weird white thing. Then he made a leap. 
 
 He landed on something soft, which, the mo- 
 ment he struck it, let out a yell that sounded loud 
 on the quiet night. Then the thing began to 
 fight. But Jack fought back and held on bravely. 
 
 "Here! What are you tryin' to do?" ex- 
 claimed a voice in his ear. 
 
 " What are you trying to do? " asked Jack in- 
 dignantly, finding that the words came from the 
 " ghost." 
 
 " Nice way to treat a man ! Half kill him ! " 
 the white thing went on. " Just when I'm trying 
 to get a little sleep you come along and pull me 
 out of bed ! " 
 
 " Why, it's Bill Jones," exclaimed Jack, as the
 
 THE SOUTH POLE 245 
 
 light from the conning tower lamp fell on the face 
 of the " ghost." 
 
 " Of course it is; who did you think it was? " 
 asked Bill. 
 
 '* What are you doing on deck in your night 
 shirt? " asked the boy, letting the helper rise. 
 
 " Me? On deck? Ain't I in my bunk? " 
 
 " I should say not," replied Jack. " What are 
 you doing on deck? " 
 
 " Well! well! " remarked Bill, rubbing his eyes. 
 " I've gone and done it again." 
 
 "Done what?" 
 
 " Walked in my sleep. I'm a great sleep 
 walker. Greatest you ever knew. Once I 
 climbed to the top of our barn when I was asleep." 
 
 " So you're the ghost of the submarine," ex- 
 claimed Jack. " That explains it." 
 
 " I guess you're right," admitted Bill, as the 
 others came on deck to see what all the row was 
 about. ** I never thought of it when I heard 
 about the ghost, but I can account for it now. 
 I'd get out of my bunk, wander out on deck, 
 and then crawl back again. Of course, being bare- 
 foot, or in fur slippers, I made no sounds. J 
 don't wonder you thought I was a spirit. Queer 
 I didn't wake up after some of the things I went 
 through." 
 
 " And you always managed to get back to your
 
 246 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 bunk in time so that we never caught you at it," 
 said Jack. " However, it's all over now." 
 
 And so it was, for after that Bill tied a chair 
 in front of his bunk, and if he did get out in his 
 sleep he stumbled against it and awoke before he 
 had gone far. 
 
 Northward the Porpoise continued on her jour- 
 ney. She entered a vast field of ice, and only her 
 ability to sink below the surface enabled her to 
 get through it unharmed. There were few ad- 
 ventures going home. Once a big whale rammed 
 the ship, as had happened on the going voyage, 
 and several times they were surrounded by hordes 
 of wild polar fish and walrusses, but there were 
 no accidents, and in a couple of weeks the ship en- 
 tered the temperate zone. 
 
 Then came lazy happy days of sailing through 
 the tropical region. They landed at several islands 
 and renewed their supply of food. 
 
 " I'm coming back this way some day," ob- 
 served Mr. Henderson one afternoon as the ship 
 was sailing along on top of the waves. 
 
 "What for? "asked Jack. 
 
 " To investigate that strange island with a big 
 hole in the middle that seems to lead to the centre 
 of the earth," was the answer. " I have a fancy 
 we can explore that by means of a balloon. I'm 
 going to trv."
 
 THE SOUTH POLE 247 
 
 ' Will you take us along? " asked the two boys. 
 
 " I'll see," replied the professor. 
 
 And later on he did take them on a trip, a thou- 
 sand miles underground, but that is another 
 story to tell. 
 
 It was about a week later that the voyagers 
 came within sight of Key West. 
 
 " Off there lies the United States," said Mr. 
 Henderson. 
 
 " Hurrah for home ! " cried Mark. 
 
 Three days later they landed at a small Florida 
 town. The sight of the Porpoise attracted 
 throngs of people to the dock where she tied up. 
 Among them was a newsboy. 
 
 " Get me all the papers for the past month," 
 said Jack. " I want to see what the news is." 
 
 " Same here," put in Mark, and the papers were 
 soon brought. 
 
 " Hurrah ! " exclaimed Jack, as soon as he had 
 looked at several of the sheets. 
 
 " What is it ? " asked Mark, who was unfold- 
 ing a paper. 
 
 " Anarchists Confess," read Jack. " Two 
 Englishmen Admit They Blew Up Hotel Where 
 Lord Peckham Was Stopping. No Suspicion At- 
 taches to Two Youths Who So Mysteriously Dis- 
 appeared! " 
 
 " Hurrah ! " joined in Mark.
 
 248 THE SOUTH POLE 
 
 " Those are only the head lines," went on Jack. 
 " There's a long story, and I guess it lets us out." 
 
 The two boys were completely cleared of the 
 slightest shade of suspicion of the outrage, and 
 there was even an interview with the English de- 
 tective in which he admitted that he was wrong. 
 
 A week later the Porpoise tied up at her own 
 dock, whence she was launched. 
 
 " Back again," remarked the professor as he 
 stepped ashore. " I've been to the south pole, 
 and to the north pok. I wonder where I shall 
 go next ? " 
 
 4 To the big hole and underground," suggested 
 Jack. 
 
 " We shall see," said Mr. Henderson with a 
 twinkle in his eyes. 
 
 THE END
 
 THE GREAT MARVEL SERIES 
 
 BY ROY ROCKWOOD 
 
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 and safe in tropical islands where the 
 dangers are too real for play. 
 
 1. CRUSOE ISLAND 
 
 .Dick, Alf and Fred find themselves stranded on an unknown island 
 with the old seaman Josh, their ship destroyed by fire, their friends 
 lost. 
 
 2. THE ISLAND TREASURE 
 
 With much ingenuity these boys fit themselves into the wild'life 
 of the island they are cast upon in storm. 
 
 3. THE MYSTERY OF THE DERELICT 
 
 Their ship and companions perished in tempest at sea, the boys 
 are adrift in a small open boat when they spy a ship. Such a strange 
 vessel! no hand guiding it, no soul on board, a derelict. 
 
 4. THE LIGHTSHIP PIRATES 
 
 ^Modern Pirates, with the ferocity of beasts, attack a lightship 
 crew; recounting the adventures that befall the survivors of that 
 crew, and "RETRIBUTION." 
 
 5. THE SECRET OF THE GOLDEN IDOL 
 
 Telling of a mutiny, and how two youngsters were unwillingly 
 involved in one of the weirdest of treasure hunts, and "THE 
 GOLDEN FETISH." 
 
 Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue 
 
 CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York
 
 THE COLLEGE SPORTS SERIES 
 
 BY LESTER CHADWICK 
 
 12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in Color$ 
 Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid 
 
 Mr. Chadwick has played on the diamond 
 and on the gridiron himself. 
 
 1. THE RIVAL PITCHERS 
 
 A Story of College Baseball 
 
 Tom Parsons, a "hayseed," makes good on 
 the scrub team of Randall College. 
 
 2. A QUARTERBACK'S PLUCK 
 
 A Story of College Football 
 
 A football story, told in Mr. Chadwick's best style, that Is bound 
 to grip the reader from the start. 
 
 3. BATTING TO WIN 
 
 A Story of College Baseball 
 
 Tom Parsons and his friends Phil and Sid are the leading playert 
 On Randall College team. There is a great game. 
 
 4. THE WINNING TOUCHDOWN 
 
 A Story of College Football 
 
 After having to reorganize their team at the last moment, RandaB 
 tnakes a touchdown that won a big game. 
 
 5. FOR THE HONOR OF RANDALL 
 
 A Story of College Athletics 
 
 The winning of the hurdle race and long-distance run is tat* 
 I remely exciting. 
 
 6. THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS 
 
 A Story of College Water Sports 
 
 Tom, Phil and Sid prove as good at aquatic sports as they are 
 ' track, gridiron and diamond. 
 
 Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue 
 
 CUPPLES & LEON GOR^ANY, Publishers New York
 
 The 'Boy Hunters Series 
 
 'By Captain Ralph 'Bonehill 
 
 12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 31. OO, postpaid. 
 
 FOUR BOY HUNTERS 
 
 Or, The Outing f the Gun Club 
 
 A FINE, breezy story of the woods and 
 * waters, of adventures in search ol 
 game, and of great times around the camp- 
 fire, told in Captain Bonehill's best style. 
 In the book are gives full direction* for 
 camping out. 
 
 GUNS AND SNOWSHOES 
 
 Or, The Winter Outing of the Young Hunters 
 
 |N this volume the young hunters leave home for a winter outing on th 
 shores of a small lake. They hunt and trap to their heart's content, 
 and have adventures in plenty, all calculated to make boys "sit up and 
 take notice." A good hea!iliy book; one vith the odor of the pine foreiU 
 ad the glare of the welcome campfire in every chapter. 
 
 YOUNG HUNTERS OF THE 
 
 Or, Out with Rod and Gun 
 
 Another tale of woods and waters, with some strong hunting scenes an4 
 ft good deal of mystery. The three volumes make a splendid outdoor series. 
 
 OUT WITH GUN AND CAMERA 
 
 Or, The Boy Hunters in the Mountains 
 T^AKES up the new fad of photographing wild animals as well as 
 * shooting them. An escaped circus chimpanzee and an escaped lion 
 add to the interest of the narrative. 
 
 CT7PPLES & LEON CO.. Publishers, 
 
 NEW YOBS
 

 
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