Under the Ocean to the South Pole | Page 4

but I'm sure there is. I have
read all the accounts 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 terrible 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 to-morrow," announced 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 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!" exclaimed
Washington, opening his eyes wide. "Dat'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 subicecream 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 colored 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.
"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 happened
to be you."
"Well, as long as you're safe you can go to sleep again," said Mark. "I
dreamed I was chasing 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 Watson 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. Henderson.
"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
expectations."
No one lingered over the meal. When it was finished the professor gave
Washington a few instructions 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 machinists 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
colored 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 outdone, 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
construction, she was quite low in the water, only about three feet of

freeboard showing where the platform was located.
"Well, she floats, anyhow," remarked the professor. "Row out