Under the Ocean to the South Pole | Page 3

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 this was an endless screw worked by powerful
engines. With a working model the professor had demonstrated that
when the endless screw was revolved 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 contained a powerful engine,
electric motors and dynamos, and machinery of all kinds. The engine
was a turbine, and steam was generated from heat furnished by the
burning of a powerful gas, manufactured 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 steersman.
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 inventor. "Call the boys,
Washington."
The colored man went to the door and gave 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 engine 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, it revolved the long screw until it fairly
hummed in the shaft.
"Hurrah! It works!" cried Mark.
"It does!" chimed in Jack.
"Gollyation! She suttinly am goin'!" yelled Washington.
"I think we may say it is a success," said the professor calmly, yet there
was a note of exultation 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 professor, 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 professor. "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 equator now, and we'll have to
cross that before we 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 professor.
"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,