Under the Ocean to the South Pole | Page 3

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, 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