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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Wizard of the Sea, by Roy Rockwood
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: The Wizard of the Sea
+       A Trip Under the Ocean
+
+
+Author: Roy Rockwood
+
+
+
+Release Date: December 19, 2006  [eBook #20132]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WIZARD OF THE SEA***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier, Emmy, and the Project
+Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net/)
+
+
+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
+      file which includes the original illustration.
+      See 20132-h.htm or 20132-h.zip:
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/1/3/20132/20132-h/20132-h.htm)
+      or
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/1/3/20132/20132-h.zip)
+
+
+
+
+
+THE WIZARD OF THE SEA
+
+or
+
+A Trip Under the Ocean
+
+by
+
+ROY ROCKWOOD
+
+Author of "A Schoolboy's Pluck," Etc.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+A. L. Burt Company, Publishers
+New York
+Copyright, 1900
+by
+The Mershon Company
+
+
+
+[Illustration: IN FRONT OF HIM WAS A HUGE OCTOPUS. P. 112.]
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+       I. INTRODUCING OUR HEROES.                1 
+      II. A TERRIFIC EXPLOSION.                  8 
+     III. THE GREAT FIGHT.                      14 
+      IV. ON THE ROAD.                          20 
+       V. HOKE UMMER'S TREACHERY.               26 
+      VI. OUT ON THE BAY.                       32 
+     VII. A LIVELY ENCOUNTER.                   46 
+    VIII. MONT IS PUNISHED.                     51 
+      IX. DOCTOR HOMER WODDLE.                  55 
+       X. THE SUBMARINE TERROR.                 61 
+      XI. ON THE BACK OF THE MONSTER.           67 
+     XII. INSIDE OF THE "SEARCHER."             74 
+    XIII. THE OWNER OF THE SUBMARINE MONSTER.   81 
+     XIV. THE ATTACK.                           86 
+      XV. PRISONERS.                            91 
+     XVI. THE MYSTERIES OF THE "SEARCHER."      98 
+    XVII. THE DEVIL FISH.                      106 
+   XVIII. MONT IS LOST.                        113 
+     XIX. MONT'S PERIL.                        120 
+      XX. THE WRECKS.                          128 
+     XXI. ON LAND ONCE MORE.                   132 
+    XXII. FIGHTING THE SAVAGES.                141 
+   XXIII. ELECTRIFYING THE SAVAGES.            149 
+    XXIV. A PEARL WORTH A FORTUNE.             159 
+     XXV. THE MAN OF MYSTERY.                  169 
+    XXVI. THROUGH THE EARTH.                   177 
+   XXVII. THE ESCAPE--CONCLUSION.              183 
+
+
+
+THE WIZARD OF THE SEA.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+INTRODUCING OUR HEROES.
+
+
+"Hip, hurrah! Hip, hurrah!"
+
+"Well, I declare; Mont Folsom, what is the matter with you?"
+
+"Matter? Nothing is the matter, Tom, only I'm going to a boarding
+school--just the best place on the face of the earth, too--Nautical
+Hall, on the seacoast."
+
+"Humph! I didn't know as how a boarding school was such a jolly place,"
+grumbled old Tom Barnstable. "They'll cane ye well if ye git into
+mischief, lad."
+
+"Will they, Tom? What for? I never do any wrong," and Mont Folsom put on
+a very sober face.
+
+"Jest to hear the lad! Never do no mischief! Ha! ha! Why you're the
+wust boy in the town fer mischief, Mont--an' everybody knows it. A
+nautical school, did ye say. Maybe they'll take ye out in a ship some
+time in that case."
+
+"They do take the pupils out--every summer, so Carl Barnaby was telling
+me. He goes there, you know, and so does Link Harmer."
+
+"Then you an' Carl will make a team--an' Heaven help the folks as comes
+in your way," added Tom Barnstable decidedly.
+
+"But we are not so bad, I tell you, Tom," said Mont, but with a sly
+twinkle in his bright eyes.
+
+"Oh, no, not at all. But jest you tell me who drove the cow into Squire
+Borden's dining room and who stuffed the musical instruments of the
+brass band with sawdust at the Fourth of July celebration? You never do
+anything, you little innocent lamb!"
+
+And with a loud guffaw the old character sauntered down the street
+toward his favorite resort, the general store.
+
+Montrose Folsom continued on his way. He was a handsome youth of
+fifteen, tall and square-shouldered, with a taking way about him that
+had made him a host of friends. He was the only son of Mrs. Alice
+Folsom, a rich widow.
+
+A moment after leaving Tom Barnstable, Mont reached the home of his
+particular chum, Lincoln Harmer. Throwing open the gate, he espied Link
+in the barnyard, and made a rush forward.
+
+"Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!"
+
+"That settles it, Mont, you're going with me next term!" exclaimed Link,
+a bright fellow of our hero's age.
+
+"If I wasn't I'd sing a dirge instead of shouting, Link. Yes, it's all
+settled, and I'll be ready to start with you Monday."
+
+"Your mother has written to Captain Hooper?"
+
+"Yes, and got word back in to-day's mail."
+
+"Good!"
+
+"I'm to buy a lot of things down to Carley's store and then go home and
+start to pack up. Come on."
+
+Arm in arm, the two chums made their way to the large general store,
+where Tom Barnstable was again encountered. Here Mont purchased some
+extra underclothing his mother said he needed. While he was at this Tom
+Barnstable came close to him.
+
+"When are ye goin' away?" he asked.
+
+"Monday morning, six o'clock."
+
+"Don't fergit the old man, Mont. We've had lots of good times--fishin'
+an' huntin', ye know."
+
+That was Tom Barnstable, good-natured and willing to do, but an absolute
+beggar at the slightest chance.
+
+"I won't forget you, Tom, not I," said the merry-hearted lad. "Here you
+are," and he slipped a shining dollar into the man's hand. A moment
+later he called one of the store clerks aside.
+
+"Have you any of those April-fool cigars left?" he whispered.
+
+"Yes--just four."
+
+"I'll take them."
+
+The cigars bought and paid for, the boy put three of them in an inside
+pocket and then turned the fourth over to Tom Barnstable.
+
+"Here, Tom, put the pipe away and have a real Havana to celebrate the
+parting," he said, and the old man immediately did as requested.
+
+The cigar burnt all right for just half a minute. Then something began
+to bulge at the end. It kept growing larger and larger, forming into
+what is called a Pharaoh's serpent, three or four feet long.
+
+Tom Barnstable's eyes began to blaze. He stared at Mont wildly.
+
+"Who--what--what is that?" he stammered. "Great Scott! I've got 'em!"
+
+And, dashing the weed to the floor, he rushed from the country store,
+with the boys' laugh ringing in his ears.
+
+"He'll remember you now, no doubt of that!" said Link merrily.
+
+The day was Saturday, and it was a busy one for both Mont and Link, with
+packing trunks and bags, and getting ready otherwise.
+
+The Sabbath passed quietly enough, and five o'clock Monday morning found
+the two boys on their way to Nautical Hall.
+
+The run of the train was to New York, and here they fell in with their
+mutual chum, Carl Barnaby, a rich young fellow from their town, and
+several others who will be introduced as our story progresses.
+
+From the Metropolis the boys took another train directly for the
+seacoast. At Pemberton they had to change cars, and here they met
+several more scholars of Nautical Hall.
+
+"There is Ike Brosnan and Hoke Ummer!" cried Link. "Two of our fellows."
+
+The newcomers were quickly introduced. Ike Brosnan looked a whole-souled
+fellow and full of fun. Hoke Ummer, on the other hand, seemed of a
+decidedly sour turn of mind.
+
+"Hoke is a good deal of a bully," whispered Link, later on. "You want to
+steer clear of him."
+
+"Thanks; he'll not step on my toes," returned Mont firmly. "The first
+man who tries to haze or bully me will get his fingers burnt."
+
+"Oh, the boys will be sure to want a little fun. You mustn't be too
+particular."
+
+"I don't mean that--I mean they mustn't go too far," replied Mont.
+
+Little did he dream of all the hazings and larks to be played ere that
+school term should be over.
+
+The journey to the seacoast was devoid of any special incident. The ride
+on the train was magnificent, and all enjoyed it thoroughly.
+
+Towards nightfall a landing was made not many miles from Eagle Point.
+Here at the dock a long stage was in waiting to take them to the Hall.
+The four boys, along with a dozen others, got aboard, and they moved off
+rapidly for Nautical Hall, two miles distant.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+A TERRIFIC EXPLOSION.
+
+
+Nautical Hall was a large building of brick, stone, and wood situated at
+the top of a small hill. In front was a level parade ground, and to one
+side the grounds sloped down to the edge of a small bay, while at the
+other they were flanked by a heavy wood.
+
+The institution was owned and managed by Captain Hooper, an ex-army and
+-navy officer, who looked to the military drill of the boys and left the
+educational department to an able corps of assistants. With the
+assistants and the gallant captain himself we will become better
+acquainted as our tale proceeds.
+
+Mont soon became acquainted with nearly all of the one hundred and odd
+boys who attended Nautical Hall, and became the leader of a set composed
+of himself, Link Harmer, Barry Powell, another lively lad, Carl Barnaby,
+his old-time chum, Piggy Mumps, a fat youth, and Sam Schump, a German
+pupil, as good-natured as can possibly be imagined.
+
+As soon as the boys arrived they were assigned to their places. Mont was
+put in the room with the crowd above mentioned. This room connected with
+another, in which were installed the bully, Hoke Ummer; Bill Goul, his
+toady, and half a dozen of the bully's cronies.
+
+"This room will get into a free fight with that gang some day," was
+Barry Powell's comment, after Schump, the German boy, had related how
+the bully had treated him.
+
+"Dot's it, mine gracious," replied Sam Schump. "Ve vill git togedder an'
+show dem vot ve can do, aint it!"
+
+Several days were spent in getting ready for the term. Mont was placed
+in the first class, with twenty others, and he was likewise put in an
+awkward squad to learn the steps and manual of arms, for the boys had
+regular military and naval exercises.
+
+As luck would have it, our hero was placed under one of the assistant
+teachers, and fared very well, but poor Piggy Mumps was put in a squad
+under Hoke Ummer, who did all he could to make the fat boy miserable.
+
+"Eyes right! Eyes left! Front!" shouted Hoke. "Why don't you mind, you
+clown!" he added to poor Piggy, who was in a sweat to do as ordered.
+
+"Vot you say, eyes right an' den eyes left, ven da vos right?" asked
+Piggy innocently.
+
+"Silence! Eyes right! Eyes left! You clown, can't you twist your eyes,
+or are you too fat?" roared Hoke.
+
+"Ton't vos call me a clown, you--you unchentlemanly poy!" cried Piggy
+wrathfully, when without warning Hoke fell upon him and hit him a blow
+on the neck.
+
+This was too much for Piggy, and he ran out of the line and closed with
+the bully. But he was no match for the big boy, and Piggy would have
+been severely punished had not Hoke been caught by the shoulder and
+hurled backward against a wall.
+
+"Let him alone!" came in the voice of Mont. "You have no right to touch
+him, Hoke Ummer."
+
+"Haven't I, though?" sneered the bully. "Do you suppose I'm going to be
+made a fool of by a lump of fat like that? You clear out, or I'll give
+you a dose, too!"
+
+"You can try it on any time you please," replied our hero quietly.
+
+"A fight! A fight!" exclaimed half a dozen at once, and the awkward
+squad was broken up on the instant.
+
+"A fight?" repeated the bully. "He'll get a thrashing--that's all it
+will amount to. Come on down to the woods if you want to have it out."
+
+"I'm willing to meet you," returned Mont, and started along, followed by
+Piggy, Link, and a dozen others.
+
+But scarcely had the boys gone a rod before the belfry bell rang out
+loudly five times.
+
+That was the signal for assembly on the parade grounds.
+
+"Hullo, we can't go now!" cried Link. "Boys, you'll have to postpone
+that mill till later."
+
+"I'll meet you after assembly," growled Hoke Ummer, under his breath,
+as Captain Hooper put in an appearance.
+
+"I'll be ready any time," rejoined our hero.
+
+"Boys, we are to have visitors in fifteen minutes!" shouted out Captain
+Hooper. "Attention! The captains will form their companies on the campus
+and a salute will be fired as the visitors enter the grounds."
+
+Orders were quickly passed, and inside of five minutes the boy cadets
+were drawn up in long lines, with the officers of the two companies in
+their proper places.
+
+The visitors were old friends of the captain who had come to the Hall
+merely out of curiosity. As their carriages approached, a cannon was run
+out, and Link and several others were detailed to fire it off.
+
+Link chose Mont to assist, and before long all was in readiness to touch
+her off.
+
+"Here they come!" shouted somebody.
+
+"Stand ready to fire!" sang out Captain Hooper, in true military style.
+"Steady, boys, now--I expect all to make the best possible appearance.
+Fire!"
+
+Link touched the cannon off, while our hero and several others stood
+close at hand.
+
+Bang!
+
+The report was terrific. The old cannon was overcharged, and was blown
+into a thousand pieces, which flew in all directions.
+
+Both Link and Mont were hurled flat, and while the former was seen to
+stagger up again, our hero lay as one dead!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+THE GREAT FIGHT.
+
+
+"He is dead!"
+
+"Run for the doctor!"
+
+"A piece struck me, too!"
+
+"The cannon must have been overloaded!"
+
+Such were some of the cries which went up after the awful explosion.
+
+Captain Hooper stood close at hand, and instantly went to our hero's
+assistance.
+
+He caught the youth up in his arms and carried him to a shady spot.
+
+"Bring some water," he commanded, but water was already at hand. With it
+he bathed Mont's head.
+
+For a minute there was an intense silence. Then, with a quiver, the lad
+opened his eyes.
+
+"Wha--what---- Did the cannon burst?" he asked feebly.
+
+"Hurrah! He's all right!" shouted Link joyfully, and inside of five
+minutes more Mont stood up and gazed about him in wonder.
+
+But he was too weak to take part in the review, and while this went on
+sat in a rustic chair under the oak tree, with several of the lady
+visitors by his side.
+
+The reception to the guests over, the cadets were dismissed, and the
+crowd lost no time in dispersing.
+
+Link remained with his chum, and both walked towards the lake.
+
+"How do you feel?" asked Link anxiously.
+
+"Rather faint in the legs, to tell the truth," was the reply. "But I
+guess I'll soon get over it."
+
+"Ready to do that fighting?" demanded a rough voice at their elbow, and
+Hoke Ummer ranged up at their side.
+
+"For shame, Hoke, Mont isn't in condition, and you know it," said Link.
+
+"Oh, nonsense!" growled the bully. "That cannon affair was only a fake.
+He wasn't hurt a bit."
+
+This remark angered our hero, and, stepping up, he faced the bully
+defiantly.
+
+"I will fight you whenever you say," he said stoutly.
+
+A boy standing near heard the remark, and the news spread like magic.
+
+"A fight between Hoke and Mont. Come on down to the woods."
+
+The schoolboy cadets needed no second invitation. A score started from
+the campus instantly.
+
+They were about evenly divided as to who would win.
+
+The bully was known to be heavy and strong.
+
+Yet our hero had shown lots of pluck.
+
+In a corner of the grounds, shut out from view from the school windows
+by a belt of trees, the boys assembled to witness the conflict.
+
+Mont prepared for the encounter, assisted by Link.
+
+Ummer, satisfied of an easy victory, placed himself in the hands of his
+toady and backer, Bill Goul.
+
+When the combatants were declared ready they faced each other.
+
+As Hoke looked into the unflinching eyes of his opponent the smile of
+satisfaction he had worn for the past few hours suddenly faded.
+
+He could see he must do his best to win.
+
+"But I'll mash him, see if I don't," he said to his toadies.
+
+"That's right, Hoke!"
+
+"Show him what you can do."
+
+Mont said nothing.
+
+"He's a tough one," whispered Link. "Beware of a foul."
+
+"I'll have my eyes open."
+
+The boys took off their coats and vests.
+
+A ring was formed and our hero and the bully got into position.
+
+"Time!" cried one of the older boys, and the great fight began.
+
+At first Mont was cautious, for he wanted to take his opponent's
+measure, so to speak.
+
+Sure of victory, the bully rushed at him, and aimed a blow at Mont's
+nose.
+
+Our hero ducked, and Hoke's fist only sawed the air.
+
+"That was a clean duck."
+
+"Land him one, Hoke!"
+
+"Go for him, Folsom!"
+
+Around and around the ring went the two boys.
+
+Then the bully aimed another blow at our hero.
+
+As quick as a flash our hero warded it off.
+
+Then out shot his fist, and the bully of Nautical Hall got a crashing
+blow in the chin that knocked him clean off his feet.
+
+What a yell went up!
+
+"Hoke is knocked out!"
+
+"Did you ever see such a blow?"
+
+Wild with rage, the bully was assisted to his feet by several friends.
+
+The blood flowed from his chin and from a cut lip.
+
+"I'll show you yet!" he hissed, and again went at Mont.
+
+But our hero was cool and collected, while the bully was excited.
+
+The bully got in one little body blow, but that was all, while our hero
+fairly played all over his face.
+
+"Better give it up, Hoke!"
+
+"You are outclassed against Mont Folsom!"
+
+"Let me be!" howled the bully.
+
+With every blow that our hero delivered Ummer's anger increased.
+
+His reputation, he felt, was at stake.
+
+If he was beaten that would be the end of him, so far as bossing the
+boys was concerned.
+
+At last Mont hit him a stinging blow on the ear that caused him to roll
+over and over.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+ON THE ROAD.
+
+
+The bully was knocked out completely, and had to acknowledge Mont the
+victor of the encounter.
+
+This he did with very bad grace, and a minute later sneaked off with his
+toady.
+
+"I'll get even for that," he growled. "He'll be sorry he ever tackled
+me."
+
+"You'll have to watch Hoke Ummer," said Link, some time later, when the
+crowd had dispersed. "He is a treacherous fellow."
+
+"I'll have my eyes open," returned our hero.
+
+Yet little did he dream of the dastardly way in which the bully would
+try to get even.
+
+It did not take Mont long to settle down at Nautical Hall. The fight had
+made him many friends, and established him as a sort of leader among a
+certain set.
+
+On the following Saturday Link proposed that he, Barry Powell, and Mont
+take a stroll down to the village.
+
+The others were willing, and soon the party was on the way.
+
+"I'll get some stuff for a midnight feast while I am at it," said Mont.
+
+Soon the school was left behind, and they came out on the village
+highway.
+
+"Hark!" cried Barry suddenly.
+
+"What is it?" demanded Mont.
+
+Barry was listening intently to a dull, heavy tramping sound, which was
+wafted faintly toward them on the breeze.
+
+"Do you hear that?" he asked excitedly.
+
+Link and Mont listened, and could distinctly hear a low thud, thud, thud
+in the distance.
+
+"What does it mean?" Link asked.
+
+"It means that a pair of ponies, or horses, have run away, and are
+coming along at a tearing gallop."
+
+As if in corroboration of Barry's words, at that moment a light phaeton,
+drawn by two high-spirited ponies, which were pounding along at the top
+of their speed, burst round the bend of the road.
+
+The vehicle was rocking from side to side, and every moment threatened
+to hurl it into one of the deep ditches which lined the road.
+
+As the boys gazed at the approaching carriage Mont's heart seemed to
+stand still.
+
+"Fellows!" he cried, "there is someone in the phaeton--a lady, I
+believe."
+
+"So there is!" gasped Link, in tones of horror. "What shall we do?"
+
+"We must stop them."
+
+With his face whiter than usual, and his lips tightly compressed, our
+hero ran down the road.
+
+"He is courting death," said his chum, beneath his breath, "but we may
+be of some use."
+
+And both started after their companion.
+
+Mont was running at the top of his speed, for he saw that the occupant
+of the carriage was only a young girl, and utterly helpless, and that
+every second's delay endangered her life.
+
+On and on he went, until he was within a score of yards of the maddened
+steeds.
+
+Then he planted himself firmly in the middle of the road and prepared
+for a spring.
+
+Fiercely the ponies dashed onward.
+
+Nearer and nearer they came, until it seemed they must inevitably
+trample him beneath their iron-shod hoofs.
+
+But our hero never wavered.
+
+Motionless he crouched there until the end of the pole almost touched
+his cheek.
+
+Then he leaped up and caught both the bridles in his strong, nervous
+grip.
+
+The ponies, with loud whinnies of rage, tossed up their heads and lifted
+him from his feet, but he clung tenaciously to them.
+
+They dragged him along the ground for a few yards, and then their speed
+began to slacken.
+
+Link now came up, and the vicious little brutes were brought to a
+standstill.
+
+Then Mont, thoroughly exhausted, sank in a heap upon the ground.
+
+As soon as the carriage was stopped in its wild career, a fair and
+beautiful girl sprang out.
+
+"Oh, is he very much hurt?" she cried, as she raised her clasped hands
+in despair.
+
+Our hero staggered to his feet, and as he gazed on the fairy-like form
+and sweet, delicate face his cheeks flushed and his heart beat quickly.
+
+"I am not hurt at all," he said stoutly, although his arms and legs and
+every portion of his body ached as though he had been upon the rack.
+
+"How can I thank you?" she exclaimed. "If it had not been for you, I
+shudder to think what might have happened. You saved my life."
+
+At this praise our hero blushed more than ever.
+
+"I require no thanks," he said. "I am rewarded enough by knowing I have
+been of some service to you, but I think you are scarcely strong enough
+to be trusted with such high-spirited animals."
+
+"My father would never have thought of such a thing," she replied. "He
+alighted at a cottage to visit one of his old friends, and while he was
+inside the ponies bolted. But here he comes, and I know he will be
+better able to thank you than I am."
+
+She pointed to the figure of a tall, elderly gentleman, of upright
+carriage and aristocratic bearing, who was coming up the road at a rapid
+pace.
+
+"It's Judge Moore," whispered Link; "he owns a fine place a couple of
+miles from here."
+
+In another moment our hero found himself being presented to the judge,
+who overwhelmed him with praise.
+
+"You must come and dine with us, you and your friends," said the judge;
+"there will only be myself and my daughter Alice. Nay, you must make no
+excuses. I shall call upon Captain Hooper and tell him all about it, and
+if ever you require a friend do not forget to come to me."
+
+Mont would have respectfully declined the invitation, but a glance from
+Alice Moore prevented him from doing so.
+
+He therefore thanked the judge for his kindness, and then the boys took
+their leave.
+
+Our hero simply raised his cap, but Alice put out her hand.
+
+"You will be certain to come?" she asked in a low tone.
+
+"Certain," he replied.
+
+The news of Mont's heroism spread through Nautical Hall, and he speedily
+found himself a decided hero.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+HOKE UMMER'S TREACHERY.
+
+
+Our hero succeeded on the following Monday in getting a quantity of
+cake, pie, and other stuff from town and hiding them in an unoccupied
+bedroom.
+
+He was also promised a dozen bottles of root beer and soda water, but
+these he was unable to smuggle into the school, owing to the
+watchfulness of Captain Hooper and his assistants.
+
+Accordingly, he hid the stuff in the bushes near the lake, and decided
+to go after it late at night.
+
+He unfolded his plan to Link, Barry, and Carl Barnaby, and this plan was
+overheard by Hoke Ummer.
+
+Next to the empty bedroom was a window overlooking the side playground.
+From this window Mont decided to reach the ground by aid of a long rope.
+
+This was the only way to get out, as after nine o'clock all the doors
+and windows below were locked in such a fashion they could not be
+opened.
+
+That evening our hero, with a light heart, repaired to the empty
+bedroom.
+
+Opening the boxful of stuff, he spread out upon a tablecloth of
+newspapers a prettily decorated ham, a couple of cold roast chickens, a
+fine apple pie, a quantity of mince pies, and a varied assortment of
+choice fruits and cake.
+
+All these arranged to his satisfaction, he looked at his watch, and then
+sat down and waited.
+
+It was just half-past eight, and in another half-hour servants and
+masters would all have retired for the night.
+
+After what appeared to the watcher to be an age the great school clock
+tolled solemnly out the hour of nine.
+
+Then Mont drew out a thick rope from beneath the bed and left the room.
+
+Soon he was at the window.
+
+Throwing up the lower sash, our hero fastened one end of the rope
+securely and threw the other out.
+
+"Just the right length," he said, and then he swung himself over the
+window sill. "I'll soon have the rest of the stuff up."
+
+The door of one of the spare bedrooms was opened, and Ummer stepped into
+the corridor.
+
+As the light of the moon fell upon his face it looked strangely white
+and ghastly.
+
+His lips were tightly compressed and his eyes had in them a horrible
+glare as he stepped stealthily but quickly to the window.
+
+Arrived there, he crouched low down that he might not be seen by any
+person outside.
+
+Then, with deft fingers, he untied the knot by which the rope was
+secured.
+
+There was heard a loud, wild cry, followed by a dull, heavy thud.
+
+Then all was still.
+
+The bully crept away along the corridor and down the stairs, his heart
+beating as though it would burst its bounds.
+
+A little before twelve o'clock that night several dark figures might
+have been seen stealing cautiously along the corridors.
+
+All these figures made their way to one common spot.
+
+This was the bedroom Mont had mentioned.
+
+Arrived there, they found everything prepared for the feast, but no
+host.
+
+"What a strange thing for Mont to do," said Carl Barnaby; "to invite us
+all here and not be present."
+
+"It isn't very gentlemanly of him," submitted Barry.
+
+"You talk like a fool," said Link. "Something must have happened to
+him."
+
+"I saw him at supper, and he was all right then."
+
+"Perhaps some of the tramps have waylaid him on the road," suggested
+another boy, who had been sitting very white and very quiet, in one
+corner of the room.
+
+Everyone turned to the speaker.
+
+"Mine cracious, dot's so," put in Sam Schump. "Besser we go an' see?"
+
+Without delay a search was begun.
+
+A rope was procured, and Link was the first person out of the window.
+
+"Hullo!"
+
+"What's up?" asked those above.
+
+"Bring a light. Mont has fallen and hurt himself."
+
+A light was quickly procured, and one after another the boys came down
+the rope.
+
+Our hero lay at the foot of a large lilac bush.
+
+It was this bush which had saved his life.
+
+When the rope gave way, had he fallen on the ground he would most likely
+have been killed.
+
+Link brought some water, and he was soon revived.
+
+In the meantime, from another window, overhead, Hoke Ummer watched
+proceedings.
+
+When he saw Mont get up his hateful face plainly showed his chagrin.
+
+"How was it you didn't fasten the rope tightly?" asked Link.
+
+"I thought I did," returned our hero. "In fact, I am certain I did," he
+added.
+
+"But it gave way and let you down."
+
+Our hero shook his head. He couldn't understand it at all.
+
+In a few minutes he was able to go with his friends and show them where
+the root-beer and soda-water bottles were hidden.
+
+Loaded down with the stuff, the crowd returned to the Hall, and the
+feast began.
+
+Nearly all of the boys of Mont's age had been invited in a general way,
+and a lively time was had for fully an hour.
+
+Hoke Ummer could not stand it to see his rival triumph over him, and so
+slipped down to the room occupied by Moses Sparks, one of the under
+teachers.
+
+"Mont Folsom and his crowd are having a feast in one of the upper
+rooms," he said.
+
+At once Moses Sparks prepared to investigate.
+
+The feast was at its height when a footstep was heard.
+
+"Scatter!" whispered Carl Barnaby, who caught the sounds first, and all
+of the boys hurried from the bedroom by side doors and managed to get to
+their own rooms.
+
+When Moses Sparks came up they seemed to be sleeping like so many lambs.
+
+"Ummer has been fooling me," muttered the under teacher. "Or else he was
+mistaken." And he went off and left the boys to finish the feast in
+peace.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+OUT ON THE BAY.
+
+
+In a general way Mont suspected Hoke Ummer, not of the dastardly trick
+he had played, but of playing the sneak and telling Moses Sparks.
+
+"I'll get square," he said to Link and Carl.
+
+Out in the fields he had picked up a dead snake, and he now resolved to
+make use of it in a truly original manner. As soon as it was time to
+retire that night Mont slipped upstairs and into the dormitory occupied
+by Hoke Ummer, Goul, and their chums.
+
+He had the dead snake with him, and put the reptile in the bully's bed.
+
+Five minutes later he was in his own room awaiting developments.
+
+They were not long in coming.
+
+A murmur of voices ended in a wild shriek of terror.
+
+"A snake!" yelled Hoke. "It's in my bed! Save me! I'm a dead boy!"
+
+His cry aroused everyone, and soon Nautical Hall was in a commotion.
+
+"What's the matter with Hoke?"
+
+"He's got 'em bad!"
+
+"A snake!" roared the bully. "Take it away."
+
+He ran out into the corridor, and soon a crowd began to collect.
+
+In the meantime Mont slipped into the room and threw the dead reptile
+out of the window.
+
+Captain Hooper tried to get at the bottom of the affair, but failed.
+
+"You must have been dreaming, Ummer," he said at last, and sent all of
+the boys off to bed.
+
+During the following week Nautical Hall was closed up, and the schoolboy
+cadets marched to the head of the bay.
+
+Here they went into camp for a month, part of the time being spent on
+the bay and the ocean beyond in learning how to sail both large and
+small boats.
+
+The sailing of the boats particularly interested Mont and Carl Barnaby.
+Link did not care very much for the water, for when the sea was rough he
+was inclined to grow seasick.
+
+One day Mont and Carl obtained permission to hire a sloop at the town,
+and go out for an all-day cruise over the bay and back.
+
+They took with them a young fellow from Nautical Hall named John
+Stumpton, a handy lad who generally went by the name of Stump. Since
+Mont had arrived at the Hall, Stump had taken to him greatly, and would
+do almost anything that Mont asked of him. Stump was also a great friend
+to Carl.
+
+They sailed out of sight of the camp, and gradually crept up to a large
+excursion boat which was just leaving one of the docks of the town.
+
+The steamboat was overcrowded, every deck being full of humanity bent on
+having a good time.
+
+Some musicians were playing on the forward deck, and they drew quite
+close to hear what was going on.
+
+Suddenly a cry of horror arose.
+
+A young girl had been standing close to the rail on a camp chair at the
+bow of the boat.
+
+It was Alice Moore.
+
+As the steamboat swung around the girl lost her balance.
+
+She tried to save herself, and, failing, pitched headlong into the
+water.
+
+Our hero saw her go under the waves.
+
+"She'll be struck by the paddle wheel," he yelled, and then, splash! he
+was overboard himself.
+
+Bravely he struck out to save the maiden.
+
+The order was given to back the steamboat.
+
+The wheels churned up the water into a white foam, but still the
+momentum carried the large craft on.
+
+In the meantime our hero came up and struck out valiantly for the girl,
+who was now going down for a second time.
+
+"Save her! Save her!" shrieked Judge Moore, who was with his daughter.
+
+Half a dozen life-preservers were thrown overboard, but none came to
+where the girl could reach them.
+
+The judge wanted to join his daughter in the water.
+
+Strong hands held him back.
+
+"The young fellow will save her, judge."
+
+"He's a true hero!"
+
+Life-lines were thrown over, but even these did no good.
+
+The steamboat swung around, but the run of the water washed the girl
+closer and closer to the paddle wheel.
+
+She now came up a second time.
+
+Should she sink again all would be over.
+
+Mont was swimming with all the strength and skill at his command.
+
+At last he was within a yard of the struggling girl.
+
+The maiden threw up her hands and went under. As quick as a flash our
+hero dove down.
+
+A second passed. Then up came our hero with the girl clinging to his
+shoulder.
+
+But now the current was apparently too strong for both of them.
+
+"Help us--quick!"
+
+Carl and Stump heard the cry, and immediately put about in their sloop.
+
+Mont was swimming along on his side.
+
+The girl was too weak to support herself, and he was holding her up well
+out of the water.
+
+It took the sloop but a moment to run up alongside of the pair.
+
+Carl reached over and caught hold of the girl and placed her on deck.
+
+In the meantime our hero caught hold of a rope thrown by the old boatman
+and pulled himself up.
+
+A cheer arose from those on the excursion boat.
+
+"She is safe now, sure!"
+
+The girl was too exhausted to move, and Carl rubbed her hands and did
+what he could for her.
+
+Stump ran up alongside of the steamboat, and a little later the girl was
+placed on board.
+
+The judge clasped his child to his breast.
+
+"Go ahead," said Mont in a low voice. "I don't want the crowd to stare
+at me."
+
+"But the judge wants to thank you," began Carl; but our hero would not
+listen.
+
+He was too modest, and made Stump actually run away from the excursion
+boat.
+
+But five hundred people cheered Mont and waved their handkerchiefs.
+
+And this was not the end of the matter.
+
+The next day Judge Moore called at the camp, and insisted on presenting
+Mont with a gold watch and chain. With this gift came a sweet letter
+from Alice Moore which made our hero blush a good deal when he read it.
+
+After this, nearly a week passed without special incident. Link was
+called home on account of the death of a relative, and Mont and Carl
+became closer chums than ever.
+
+One day Hoke Ummer was caught abusing one of the small boys so greatly
+that the boy had to be placed under a doctor's care.
+
+The boy's father had Hoke arrested. The case, however, never came to
+trial.
+
+The consequence of the arrest was that the bully was dismissed from the
+school; and that was the last Mont saw of him.
+
+"We are well rid of him," he said, and Carl and the others agreed with
+him.
+
+One day Mont and Carl went out for an all-day cruise on the bay, taking
+John Stumpton with them.
+
+When the two schoolboys started out with the hired lad they did not
+intend to remain away longer than sunset, and not one of them dreamed of
+the marvelous adventures in store for each ere he should be permitted to
+see his native land again.
+
+The start was made in a fair breeze, and it looked so nice overhead that
+Mont proposed they take a short run directly into the ocean.
+
+"All right--I'll go you," answered Carl slangily, and away they skimmed.
+
+By noon they were almost out of sight of land, and while they were
+eating the repast Stump had prepared Carl proposed that they turn back.
+
+This was hardly accomplished when it suddenly grew dark, and they found
+themselves caught in a squall.
+
+"By gracious! I didn't bargain for this!" cried Carl. "If we don't take
+care, we'll go to the bottom!"
+
+"Don't worry--yet," answered Mont. "I guess we'll get back all right."
+
+Blacker and blacker grew the sky, until absolutely nothing could be
+seen. Every sail was closely reefed, and the boys strained their eyes to
+pierce the gloom which hung over them.
+
+Suddenly Stump set up a yell.
+
+"Look out; there is a ship!"
+
+He got no further. A large form loomed up in the darkness. There was one
+grinding, smashing crash, and then came a shock that split the
+light-built sloop from stem to stern.
+
+All of the boys were hurled into the boiling sea. But none was hurt;
+and, coming to the surface, all struggled to cling to the wreckage
+floating about, meanwhile crying loudly for help.
+
+When they were picked up they were thoroughly exhausted, and Carl lost
+his senses completely.
+
+The ship that had run them down was the _Golden Cross_. The captain's
+name was Savage, and he was bound for the Bermudas.
+
+He refused to stop anywhere to put the boys off, saying he had not the
+time to do so.
+
+In reality he was afraid he would be brought to account for wrecking the
+sloop.
+
+He would not believe that Mont and Carl were rich, and that their
+parents would willingly pay him for any trouble he might take on their
+behalf.
+
+"I'll keep 'em on board and make 'em work their passage," he said to his
+mate, a mean chap by the name of Slog. "We are rather short of hands."
+
+A night's rest did wonders for the boys.
+
+By morning the storm cleared off, and the _Golden Cross_ proceeded
+swiftly on her way, favored by a good breeze.
+
+Mont found himself in the ill-smelling forecastle. He was awfully
+hungry, and the first thing he did was to make his way to the cook's
+galley. The cook smiled as Mont appeared. "Got around, eh?" he said.
+"Good for you. I thought you would be sick for the rest of the trip
+after such an adventure."
+
+"I am pretty tough," answered Mont.
+
+"You look a bit like a sailor."
+
+"Oh, I know a thing or two about the water," replied Mont modestly.
+"But tell me," he went on, "what sort of a captain have you?"
+
+"Oh, he's a caution, and so is Slog, the first mate," laughed the cook.
+"The captain is the toughest man this line of ships ever had."
+
+"Humph! That's not encouraging," mused our hero. "Why do the owners keep
+him?"
+
+"Because he's clever. He may be out in all weather, but he's never lost
+a ship."
+
+"This seems like an old tub," observed Mont, looking around him.
+
+"Yes, she isn't worth much. She pitches and tosses in a gale awful. It's
+the oldest ship the firm's got."
+
+"Is it insured?"
+
+"Yes. I know the insurance is very heavy, and it wouldn't be a bad job
+for the owners if she went down," replied the cook.
+
+"Bad job for us, though," remarked Mont. "I don't want to be drowned."
+
+"Have you had any breakfast?" asked the cook good-naturedly.
+
+"Not a bit."
+
+"I don't expect the regular hands will give you a chance of getting
+much. There's Sam Holly and Jerry Dabble. One's a bully and the other's
+a sneak."
+
+"I haven't seen them yet."
+
+"Fight shy of both of them. They're no good. They'll make you and your
+chums do all the work, now you've come on board."
+
+"I'll bet a dollar they won't get a stroke of work out of me," returned
+Mont decidedly.
+
+"You will?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, you're a plucky lad," exclaimed the cook admiringly, "and from
+your size and looks I should think you could box."
+
+"Just a little bit," answered Mont smilingly.
+
+"The captain favors Jerry Dabble, and listens to all he says. He's a
+regular sneak. You look out for him."
+
+"I will."
+
+"Will you have a bit of breakfast along with me? I can give you a nice
+bit I've cut off the skipper's ham and a couple of eggs."
+
+"I'm with you," said Mont readily, "and I'll return your kindness on the
+first opportunity."
+
+In a moment our hero was supplied with a good breakfast, which was
+washed down with a cup of coffee.
+
+The sea was rather high, although the wind had gone down.
+
+It was not difficult to perceive, when Mont came to examine her, that
+the ship was a very old one and had seen her best days.
+
+Mont thought a trip to the Bermudas would be very nice, but at the same
+time he did not mean to be the captain's slave, or the first mate's
+either.
+
+He had not shipped with them, and they could not legally make him work,
+though he did not mind lending a hand if he was asked in a friendly
+manner.
+
+His mother would pay for his passage if she was asked.
+
+The officers evidently took him, Carl, and Stump to be three sons of
+fishermen, and had made up their minds to treat them accordingly.
+
+When he left the galley, Mont went to where the regular hands slept and
+messed, and where he and his companions had slept.
+
+There was a great outcry as he came in.
+
+"Leave off, I say," Carl was exclaiming; "I won't have it. Two of you
+onto me at once isn't fair."
+
+In a moment Mont was there. He found the two young men, Sam Holly and
+Jerry Dabble, standing over his chum with two ropes' ends, with which
+they were hitting him.
+
+"What are you licking him for?" asked Mont, his eyes flashing.
+
+"Because he won't get the breakfast," said Holly.
+
+"He's not your servant--why should he?"
+
+"He'll have to do it, or you will," said Sam the bully, setting his arms
+akimbo and staring impudently at Mont.
+
+"My good fellow," said the latter, "don't you make any error. Neither my
+friend nor myself means to do anything on board this ship unless we're
+asked civilly."
+
+Jerry Dabble laughed. "You're a fool to talk that way!" he roared.
+
+Mont immediately gave him a cuff on the ears which sent him rolling over
+a bunk.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+A LIVELY ENCOUNTER.
+
+
+The two sailors were astonished beyond measure at Mont's quick action.
+
+"Good for you, Mont!" cried Carl Barnaby, while Stump grinned with
+intense delight.
+
+"I'll go and tell the captain," growled Jerry, as he got up slowly.
+
+Sam Holly, who was a thick-set, heavy-looking fellow, turned to Mont. "I
+have had enough of this nonsense. Do you mean to do your work or not?"
+
+"Certainly not; do it yourself."
+
+"Do you want a good hiding?"
+
+"You can't give it to me."
+
+"I can try, can't I?" said Holly.
+
+"So can any other fool; but it doesn't follow he will do it."
+
+"Look here, I've been two voyages before this. You're a green hand
+compared to me, and I'm boss here. We are short-handed. Do the work,
+and I'll make things easy for you; if not, it will be worse for you."
+
+"I'll chance that," said Mont.
+
+"Do you mean to risk a sound thrashing?"
+
+"Oh, yes, I'm game for a rough-and-tumble. It's sure to come sooner or
+later, and we may as well get it over at once."
+
+"Mind your eye, then," yelled Holly.
+
+His ugly face glowed with passion, and his great, stupid-looking ears
+seemed to stick out like cabbage leaves.
+
+"Come on," he said.
+
+"I'm ready," returned Mont.
+
+The fight commenced in the little cabin, and it was evident that the
+combatants were in earnest.
+
+Our hero found his opponent as strong as a young bull, but he had not
+very much skill.
+
+Parrying his blows and hitting hard when he had a good chance, Mont
+punished him severely.
+
+But he was knocked down first.
+
+"Will that do for you," said Holly, "or do you want any more?"
+
+"More, please," exclaimed Mont, getting up. And then he clipped Holly
+two heavy ones that knocked him nearly down a ladder.
+
+Holly foamed with rage. "Come on!" he exclaimed, in a husky voice.
+
+The fight continued for ten minutes, with varying success. At last Mont
+saw a good chance, and, pretending to strike Holly's face, he dropped
+his hand and hit him in the stomach.
+
+As the bully fell back, gasping for breath, Mont exclaimed:
+
+"How do you like it now, you bully? Do you want any more?"
+
+"Not this voyage," rejoined Holly dismally; "you're best man."
+
+"It's a pity you didn't find that out before," remarked Mont. "However,
+it's never too late to learn. Perhaps you will get our breakfast ready.
+I'm master now. Do you understand that, Mr. Bully?"
+
+"Don't crow. I'm licked this time, but my turn may come. Sit down and
+have your grub."
+
+Mont was quite satisfied with his victory.
+
+He shook hands with Holly, and they all sat down together, making a
+comfortable breakfast, though the fare was not luxurious.
+
+Carl and our hero went on deck afterward, and, hearing an altercation
+forward, ran in that direction.
+
+Captain Savage was beating a sailor with a marlinspike for some breach
+of discipline.
+
+The crew looked on without interfering.
+
+The sailor was a fine, handsome fellow, and in vain begged the tyrant to
+desist. The poor fellow's face was streaming with blood, and Mont's
+anger arose instantly.
+
+Rushing forward, he seized the captain's arm, and exclaimed:
+
+"Stop that--I won't have it!"
+
+The next moment he was alarmed at his rashness.
+
+Turning upon him with incredible fury, the captain exclaimed:
+
+"How dare you speak to me, youngster! I'll break every bone in your
+body!"
+
+At a sign from the first mate, on whose face sat a smile of malicious
+satisfaction, four men fell upon Mont, whose arms were pinioned, and he
+was thrown on his back, where he lay perfectly helpless.
+
+"Take him away," continued Captain Savage. "I will deal with him
+presently. It's a pity I took the young whelp on board; he should have
+drowned if I'd have known what he was made of."
+
+Strong arms lifted Mont up, and he was forced into a dark hole, near the
+cook's galley, where he was half stifled with the heat and smell of tar.
+
+Mont felt he was now in for it, and no mistake.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+MONT IS PUNISHED.
+
+
+"Hang the luck, anyway!"
+
+In a miserable state of mind, but still very angry, Mont sat down in his
+gloomy prison, and wondered what would happen next.
+
+An hour later the captain called up the first mate.
+
+"Let the prisoner be brought forward, and call the hands to witness
+punishment; muster them all. I mean to make an example."
+
+The mate summoned the crew, all of whom trooped forward with a sullen
+and discontented air.
+
+The first mate went to Mont, and personally conducted him on deck.
+
+"Now, my lad," said the captain, with a brutal air, "I'm going to let
+you know what discipline is. Strip!"
+
+Looking around him defiantly, Mont did not move.
+
+"Do you hear me?" thundered the captain. "Strip!"
+
+"Captain Savage," said Mont quietly, "I protest against this treatment.
+You saved my life and the lives of my companions, for which I thank you.
+We would leave your ship at once if we could. As it is, we are unwilling
+passengers."
+
+"You are a part of the crew, and must work out your passage."
+
+"Not at all. We have not signed articles, and you have no power over us
+so long as we conduct ourselves properly."
+
+"Why did you interfere between me and one of my crew? But I'll waste no
+words with you," replied the captain. "Tie him to the foremast."
+
+He caught up the rope's end and hit Mont a single blow.
+
+He was about to go on, when the sailors advanced in a body, and formed a
+line between him and Mont.
+
+"Back, you scoundrels! Back, mutinous dogs!" exclaimed the captain in a
+greater rage than ever.
+
+The solid line remained immovable, and Mont was set free.
+
+Both mates put themselves by the captain's side, as they feared a crisis
+was approaching, and they determined to side with the skipper.
+
+"Look'ee here, cappen," said an old, grizzled sailor. "I've shipped
+aboard o' many vessels, and I've seen a few skippers, but never the
+likes o' you. We don't want to do you no harm, but we aint a-goin' to
+stan' by and see that poor lad flogged half to death because he
+interfered for one o' us."
+
+"I'll have you all tried at the first port I come to!" exclaimed the
+captain.
+
+Slog, the mate, caught the captain's arm.
+
+"For Heaven's sake, go below, and leave them to me!" he said.
+
+"Not I. Where are my pistols? I'll shoot some of the dogs."
+
+"Be guided by me, sir. Let them alone this time, and tackle them one by
+one. If you don't, they'll do something desperate."
+
+The captain mumbled something which was inaudible. He was almost
+speechless with rage.
+
+Suddenly the voice of the lookout man rang out clearly:
+
+"A strange sail."
+
+"Where away?" asked the captain.
+
+"On the larboard bow, sir."
+
+The captain took his telescope, and began to examine the strange sail.
+
+Everyone crowded to the side to have a look, and every eye was soon
+searching the horizon.
+
+Even Mont shared the excitement.
+
+He had a pocket glass, and brought it into use.
+
+"Perhaps we'll be taken off," he said to Carl.
+
+"I sincerely hope so," replied his chum. "I've had enough of this
+ship."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+DOCTOR HOMER WODDLE.
+
+
+It was soon discovered that the sail was nothing more or less than a man
+clinging to a chicken coop, who had taken off his shirt and hoisted it
+on high to attract attention.
+
+When he was neared, a boat was lowered, and the unfortunate man picked
+up and brought on board.
+
+He was a little, wiry man, about forty-five years of age, with sharp,
+intelligent face, and an expression of anything but good temper.
+
+"Which is the captain of this vessel?" he asked on coming aboard.
+
+"I am," replied Captain Savage.
+
+"You've been a long time picking me up. What do you mean by it?" said
+the little man.
+
+"That's a cool remark," said the captain, "considering we have, in all
+probability, saved your life."
+
+"And if you have, you only did your duty. Where is your cabin? Give me
+some fresh clothes immediately, and something to eat and drink."
+
+"You've got a nerve," said the captain, inclined to be angry. "I've a
+good mind never to save anyone again."
+
+"That will not matter much to me. You are not likely to save me twice."
+
+"Who are you?"
+
+"My name is Homer Woddle, sir."
+
+"You speak loud enough," replied the captain.
+
+"Bah! it's evident you are not a man of science, or you would have heard
+of me. I have written books, sir--books!"
+
+"What then?"
+
+"I am a famous man. My position in life is that of Secretary to the
+Society for the Exploration of the Unknown Parts of the World, sir, and
+I am making my third voyage."
+
+"How were you wrecked?"
+
+"That is the strangest thing. But give me to eat and drink, clothe me,
+and you shall hear."
+
+"Speak first, and then I'll think of it, Mr. Woddle," said the captain.
+
+The conversation was audible enough to be heard by all on board, who
+crowded round the speakers in a way that showed how severely discipline
+on board the ship had been interfered with by the late occurrence.
+
+"Well, well, well," cried the little man, irritably, "what a boy you
+are! I left Boston last week on board the _Comet_. Well, sir, that ship
+was fitted up at a great expense in order that we might make
+discoveries. Do you see?"
+
+"Not clearly as yet," answered the captain.
+
+"Tush, be quiet," exclaimed the irritable little man; "don't interrupt
+me. This morning about eight o'clock we were struck amidships, but below
+the water line, by a wonderful sea monster, which nearly cut us in two."
+
+"Did the ship sink?"
+
+"She did almost directly afterward. I seized a chicken coop, and here I
+am."
+
+"A monster cut you in two!" exclaimed the captain, opening his eyes.
+"What sort of a monster? Did you see it?"
+
+"We did for a few minutes. It was black and long, like a gigantic eel,
+and threw out phosphorescent light."
+
+"Then there was something electric about it?" remarked the first mate.
+
+"Undoubtedly."
+
+"That's a strange yarn," observed the captain.
+
+He took Dr. Homer Woddle, the Secretary of the Society for the
+Exploration of the Unknown Parts of the World, into his cabin, gave him
+dry clothes, and provided him with the best dinner the resources of the
+ship could afford.
+
+Mont had listened curiously to the conversation between Captain Savage
+and the newcomer.
+
+Taking Carl's arm, he said:
+
+"That's a wonderful yarn of that fellow who has just come on board."
+
+"Very."
+
+"I don't know what to make of it, exactly. A fish is a fish, and unless
+it has a big horn, it can't sink a ship."
+
+"Perhaps he's cracked."
+
+"Not he. I have heard of him. There is something in it. The man is sane
+enough. He has been wrecked, and he has told his story plainly enough,
+only I don't believe in the strange animal."
+
+"What is it, then?"
+
+"That's the mystery. There can't be any rocks in the middle of the sea.
+It isn't a rock."
+
+"Then it must be a wonderful fish."
+
+A couple of hours passed when Dr. Woddle came on deck, arm in arm with
+Captain Savage.
+
+After a time the scientist left the captain, and met Mont.
+
+"Nice weather, my lad," he exclaimed.
+
+"Who are you calling 'my lad'?" asked Mont.
+
+"You're one of the crew, I suppose, and you needn't be so snappish."
+
+"I'm a passenger," replied Mont, "and my name is Mont Folsom. Sorry I
+haven't got a card, but I was wrecked yesterday, and that will account
+for it. I and my companions come from Nautical Hall."
+
+"Indeed! I presume you were picked up as I was? Did you meet with the
+singular animal that destroyed my ship?"
+
+"Can't say I did. What was he like?"
+
+"A huge, long thing, covered with scales, half in, half out of the
+water."
+
+"Are we likely to meet with him again?"
+
+"I should think so," answered the scientist. "Look there!"
+
+"Where?" exclaimed Mont.
+
+"To the right. I don't understand those confounded sea terms, and I
+don't know larboard from starboard, but on my right is the creature."
+
+"The dreaded animal?" asked Mont, with a laugh.
+
+"Yes. Look!"
+
+Our hero followed the direction of the outstretched arm, and beheld a
+curious sight.
+
+Not far from the ship was a long, black-looking thing, lying like a
+great round log on the water.
+
+It was the submarine monster.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+THE SUBMARINE TERROR.
+
+
+Captain Savage at once came to the rail, and was soon busily engaged in
+looking at the wonderful creature which Homer Woddle declared had sunk
+the ship in which he had been sailing.
+
+The crew were much agitated, for seamen are at all times superstitious,
+and, never having heard of such a strange monster, they fancied its
+appearance boded no good.
+
+The monster, which had been perfectly inert up to this time, threw out a
+marvelous light, which illuminated the depths of the sea.
+
+The magnificent irradiation was evidently the result of electricity, and
+it revealed the shape of the strange fish, if fish it was, very
+distinctly.
+
+Its form was what we may call a lengthened oval, tapering off at the
+head and tail, which were under the water, only part of the scaly back
+being exposed to the air.
+
+Dr. Woddle called the captain.
+
+"Sir," he said, "the monster is again close to us. I ask you, in the
+interest of science, to capture it."
+
+"Who's going to do it, and how is it to be done?" said Captain Savage.
+
+"This thing is a scourge of the ocean. It destroys ships, therefore it
+is your duty to destroy it," persisted the man of science.
+
+"We will harpoon it, if you like, though I do not know why I should risk
+the lives of my crew. Where's Bowline? Pass the word for Bowline," said
+the captain.
+
+When Bill Bowline made his appearance he was trembling like a leaf.
+
+"Get your harpoon, my man," said the captain.
+
+"Not me, sir," said the sailor firmly. "I wouldn't harm a scale of the
+critter's back, were it ever so near. We shall all be sent to the bottom
+of the sea if I do."
+
+Turning to Homer Woddle, the captain said:
+
+"You see the feeling of my men; what can I do?"
+
+"I'll do it myself," said the man of science grandly. "If no one will
+attack this monster, the honor and the glory of the task shall belong to
+me. Give me a boat and loaded guns. It will be hard, indeed, if I cannot
+put a bullet in him, and lay the mighty brute low. Who will volunteer
+for this splendid task?"
+
+There was no response.
+
+"What! Are you all cowards? Will no one volunteer?" continued the man of
+science scornfully.
+
+Mont stepped forward.
+
+"I'm with you, sir!" he exclaimed. "Can't stand by and see a gentleman
+left alone. I'm not afraid of the creature."
+
+Carl, as a matter of course, took his place by our hero's side, and so
+did Stump.
+
+Where Mont went his devoted friend and equally attached follower felt
+bound to go as a matter of duty.
+
+"Three of you. Bravo!" cried the scientist. "Now, we are four, and we
+shall triumph. Lower a boat, if you please."
+
+The order was given to put the ship about, and a spot favorable for the
+enterprise being selected near the monster, a boat was lowered, into
+which the volunteers descended.
+
+Carl and Stump took the oars, Mont grasped the tiller, and Dr. Woddle
+stood in the bows with a loaded gun under each arm.
+
+"My four troublesome customers," said the captain, in a low tone to the
+first mate, "stand a very good chance of never returning."
+
+"It will be a cheap way to get rid of them, although it may cost us the
+boat," said the mate in the same tone.
+
+"Steady, my lads," said the scientist. "Easy all; keep the head before
+the wind, Mr. Folsom, if you please."
+
+"Steady she is," answered Mont.
+
+The boat stopped at a short distance from the monster, and Homer Woddle
+stood up, placed a gun to his shoulder, and fired.
+
+The ball struck the huge slumbering beast, but glided off its back as if
+it had struck a piece of polished steel.
+
+"Hard as the hide of a rhinoceros," said the man of science; "we must
+try again. Steady, boys."
+
+The monster, however, did not seem to approve of being shot at, and
+seemed to tremble violently for a moment.
+
+Then with incredible velocity it darted past the rowboat, which was
+upset in a moment, and proceeded to strike the ship.
+
+It struck the unfortunate vessel a terrific blow directly back of the
+bow.
+
+The crash was distinctly audible, and amid the noise of falling masts
+and flapping sails were heard the cries of the sailors and the moans of
+the dying.
+
+After the concussion the monster retired as it had come.
+
+A cloud obscured the surface of the ocean, and it was difficult to tell
+where it had gone, or what had become of the ship.
+
+Mont found himself struggling in the sea, and wondered what had become
+of his companions.
+
+"Hang those monsters of the deep," he said to himself; "I don't like
+them."
+
+Swimming gently, he got hold of one of the oars of the boat, and so kept
+himself afloat without much exertion.
+
+It was not a hopeful position to be in.
+
+Struggling alone in the middle of a vast ocean, ignorant of the fate of
+his companions, and doubtful of succor, it was not to be wondered at if
+he felt inclined to despair.
+
+Would he sink or swim? The question was, just then, a hard one to
+answer.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+ON THE BACK OF THE MONSTER.
+
+
+Mont was alone on the ocean with nothing but water in sight.
+
+Yet his heart did not fail him.
+
+"Well," he said aloud, "I like adventures, and now I have met with a
+beautiful one. Perhaps I shall be picked up. Perhaps not."
+
+Five minutes passed. To our hero they seemed an age.
+
+"Hullo! Hi! What cheer? Ship ahoy!" he cried.
+
+He had scarcely closed his lips, after this appeal for help, when he
+felt his arm seized vigorously.
+
+"Who are you?" he asked.
+
+"If you will lean upon my shoulder," was the reply, "you will soon gain
+strength and swim better."
+
+"Is it you, Stump?" said Mont, recognizing the voice of his faithful
+friend.
+
+"At your service, Master Mont. I have been swimming about everywhere
+looking for you ever since that submarine beast swamped us. Ugh! What a
+terrible brute it is! It laughs at bullets, and cares no more for
+sinking a ship than I should for kicking over a stool."
+
+"Is no one saved?"
+
+"I can't tell any more than you; all I thought of was to swim after
+you."
+
+The situation was as terrible a one as can well be imagined.
+
+Those on board the vessel were in too much trouble, if they were yet
+living, to think of the perils of the others who had courted destruction
+by going in the boat to attack the monster.
+
+Nor would Captain Savage feel very friendly disposed toward them,
+because it was Dr. Woddle's shot that caused the slumbering creature to
+rush madly upon the vessel.
+
+Mont began to calculate the chances of safety. If the ship had not
+foundered the crew might lower another boat in the morning to search
+for them. The sun would not rise for about eight hours. Could they
+exist so long in the water without fainting or becoming cramped by the
+sluggish circulation of the blood?
+
+In vain he tried to pierce the dense darkness which surrounded them, for
+now the moon had disappeared, and bad weather seemed imminent again.
+
+About two o'clock in the morning our hero was seized with extreme
+fatigue; his limbs were a prey to an agonizing cramp.
+
+Stump put his arm around him, but he drew his breath with difficulty,
+and evidently required all his strength for himself.
+
+"Let me go, boy," said Mont; "save yourself."
+
+"Certainly not," said Stump quickly. "We're not going down just yet."
+
+At that moment the moon appeared again from under the edge of a thick
+cloud which had concealed it for a time, and the surface of the sea
+sparkled under its rays.
+
+This fortunate light put new strength into the boys, and Mont searched
+the horizon with eager, careful gaze.
+
+He saw the ship, or what appeared to be her, about two miles off,
+looking like a somber, inert mass, but there was no sign of a boat.
+
+At first he was inclined to cry for help, but of what use would it have
+been at that distance?
+
+"Here, this way! Hi! help, help!" shouted Stump.
+
+Was it one of those delusive sounds which the anxious mind sometimes
+conjures up, or did an answer really come to the lad's cry for help?
+
+"Did you hear anything?" asked Mont.
+
+"Yes, I thought so," said Stump, and he began to cry out again.
+
+"Help, help!"
+
+This time there was no mistake. A human voice clearly responded through
+the darkness.
+
+Stump lifted himself as high out of the water as he could, and taking a
+look, fell back exhausted, clinging desperately to the oar.
+
+"Did you see anything?" asked Mont anxiously.
+
+"Yes; don't talk, sir; we want all our strength."
+
+There was a hopeful ring in his voice which inspired Mont, who,
+however, fancied he heard the boy sigh almost directly afterward.
+
+He thought of the monster. Was it still near them? But, if so, whence
+came the voice?
+
+They began to swim with all the strength they had left, and after some
+minutes of continued exertion, for moving was a painful task in their
+state, Stump spoke again.
+
+"Are you far off?" he said.
+
+"Not far--push on," replied the voice, which Mont fancied he knew.
+
+Suddenly an outstretched hand seized him; he was pulled violently out of
+the water, just as his senses were going, and, after someone had rubbed
+his hands vigorously, he opened his eyes and murmured:
+
+"Stump."
+
+"Here, sir," replied the lad.
+
+By the rays of the moon our hero saw a figure which was not that of
+Stump, but which he recognized easily.
+
+"Dr. Woddle?" he said.
+
+"Right, my lad," answered the man of science.
+
+"Where is Carl?"
+
+"Here," answered our hero's chum. "The doctor and I stuck together, and
+our only concern has been for you."
+
+"Where are we?" asked Mont puzzled; "this thing I am sitting on seems
+firm enough."
+
+"It's a floating island," answered Woddle.
+
+A horrible thought crossed Mont's mind to which he could not give
+expression.
+
+"To put you out of your misery at once," continued Dr. Woddle, "we are
+on the back of the gigantic creature at whom I shot, and I know now why
+I did not kill him."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Because he is ironclad, or something very like it. I can make no
+impression upon the scaly monster with my knife."
+
+These words produced a strange feeling in Mont's mind. He found that he
+was really with his friends on the back of the monster, which continued
+to float on the surface, after causing the partial destruction of the
+ship.
+
+He got up and stamped his foot. It was certainly a hard, impenetrable
+body, and not the soft substance of which all the marine inhabitants
+that he had heard of were made, such as whales, sharks, walruses, and
+the like. If anything, it more resembled a tortoise or an alligator. A
+hollow sound was emitted when it was struck, and it appeared to be made
+of cast-iron plates secured together.
+
+"What is your opinion of the creature, sir?" asked Mont.
+
+"You want my candid opinion as a man of science?" said the doctor.
+
+"Certainly, sir."
+
+"I should say, then, that this peculiarly constructed monster is the
+result of human hands and ingenuity."
+
+"In that case, it is not a monster at all."
+
+"By no means; I am very much in the dark at present, but I am positive
+that there is some wonderful mystery about this thing, which to my mind
+is a sort of submarine ship, ingeniously constructed to sail under the
+water for a time, and to come to the surface for a supply of fresh air
+from time to time. In short; an electric submarine boat."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+INSIDE OF THE "SEARCHER."
+
+
+All three of the boys were greatly astonished.
+
+"It beats the Dutch!" cried Carl.
+
+"If that is so," said Mont, "there must be some internal mechanism to
+make it work about."
+
+"Evidently."
+
+"It gives no sign of life."
+
+"Not at present," answered the man of science. "But we have seen it
+move. It has appeared and disappeared. Consequently, it must have hidden
+machinery."
+
+"Of course."
+
+"So that we come to the conclusion, which is inevitable, that there must
+be a man or men inside to direct the ship."
+
+"Hurrah!" cried our hero; "I didn't think of that. We are saved if that
+is so, and it must be as you say."
+
+"Hum!" muttered the professor; "I don't know so much about that. If,
+when it makes a start, it glides along the surface of the water, we are
+all right; but if it goes down, we are lost."
+
+"I've got an idea," said Mont, after a pause. "We must knock at the
+door, and see if we can find anyone at home."
+
+His companions laughed.
+
+"I have searched carefully," said Carl, "but I can't find even a
+manhole."
+
+There was nothing to do but to wait until morning.
+
+Mont wanted to keep his feet warm, so he amused himself by kicking his
+heels upon the body beneath him.
+
+"I'll wake 'em up," he said. "They shan't sleep if they won't let me
+in."
+
+Their safety depended absolutely upon the caprice of the mysterious
+steersman who inhabited the ironclad, fish-shaped machine.
+
+It seemed to the professor that before those inside descended again they
+would have to open some hole to obtain air.
+
+All were now very tired, wet, and hungry, and soon a raging thirst began
+to attack them.
+
+Our hero fancied he heard vague sounds beneath him, but could not be
+sure.
+
+Who were the strange beings that lived in the floating iron shell?
+
+Kicking angrily upon the iron surface, Mont said:
+
+"You are very inhospitable inside. I am hungry and thirsty. Do you want
+me to die up here?"
+
+He had no sooner spoken than a flap beside him opened and a railing came
+up as if by magic.
+
+Half the body of a strong, wiry, thick-bearded man appeared. He held a
+curious wire net.
+
+The net fell over Mont's head, and he felt himself dragged over the
+railing and down into the interior of the iron shell.
+
+A cry of terror broke from his companions, answered by a smothered yell
+from Mont, as the flap fell back and shut out any further view of the
+interior.
+
+Our hero had vanished.
+
+This removal, so brutally executed, was accomplished with the rapidity
+of lightning.
+
+Dr. Woddle felt his hair stand on end, and as for Carl and Stump they
+were chilled to the marrow of their bones with fear.
+
+"What have they done with him?" Carl asked.
+
+"Your friend is the first victim," replied the professor. "Perhaps they
+mean to eat him. For my part, they may eat me as soon as they like;
+anything is preferable to this."
+
+"I wish I could get at them," replied Stump. "I'd soon have Master Mont
+out."
+
+The words were scarcely out of his mouth when the trap door opened
+again, and the servant was dragged down below in a similar manner.
+
+"Really this is very extraordinary," said the professor; "two of us are
+gone. We are no doubt in the hands of pirates, wretched rovers of the
+sea, who have brought science to their aid. It is to be hoped----"
+
+The door opened while he was speaking and a long arm twining round his
+waist dragged him too into the heart of this floating prison.
+
+His legs kicking up ludicrously in the air attracted the attention of
+Carl, who could not refrain from laughing, miserable though he was.
+
+"My turn next," muttered the youth.
+
+He was not long kept in suspense.
+
+The long net twined, snakelike, round him, and he too descended into the
+bowels of the infernal machine.
+
+Mont's experience was that of all of them.
+
+He had descended an iron ladder and was pushed into a room, the door of
+which shut to with a heavy bang.
+
+In ten minutes they were all together in the same compartment.
+
+The darkness of their prison was so intense as to prevent our hero
+seeing his hand before his face.
+
+Thus it was impossible to guess where they were, or even to tell if they
+were alone or not.
+
+"This is an outrage," said the doctor. "I protest against it. Is the
+author of a dozen immortal works to be treated like a naughty
+schoolboy?"
+
+"We're prisoners," remarked Mont, "and it's no use hallooing. They're
+not going to eat us. This isn't an oven, and I think we are better here
+than up above."
+
+"At least we had our liberty," continued the doctor, who was never
+satisfied or happy unless he was at work or grumbling.
+
+"I've got a knife," said Stump boldly, "and I'll stick the first that
+comes near me. It's a regular pig-sticker, my knife, and I'll bet they
+feel it."
+
+"Don't you do anything of the sort!" cried Mont. "You might get us all
+killed."
+
+"It's very hard if a poor boy can't do something."
+
+"You'll get it hot if anyone is listening to you. If you don't care for
+yourself, think of us."
+
+Stump grumbled inaudibly, and Mont began to take the dimensions of the
+prison in which they were.
+
+This he did by walking about, and he made it twenty feet long by ten
+wide. The walls were of iron, made of plates riveted together.
+
+Half an hour passed. At the expiration of that time, the cabin was
+illuminated by a flood of light so vivid and blinding that it was
+difficult to bear the intensity.
+
+Mont recognized the electric light that had floated round the ship when
+he first saw it.
+
+When he got used to its clear whiteness, he looked up and saw that it
+proceeded from a globe which hung from the ceiling.
+
+"Light at last; our captors are becoming more civil," said the doctor,
+rubbing his hands gayly.
+
+"It's about time, I think," answered our hero.
+
+They were not much better off, however, for the cabin only contained a
+table and five wooden stools, but the light was refreshing and made them
+more cheerful.
+
+Not a sound reached their ears; everywhere reigned the silence of the
+grave.
+
+Perhaps the ship had sunk to the bottom of the ocean, for it seemed to
+have the power of going where its strange owner wished.
+
+In a short time the door opened and two men appeared.
+
+"Visitors at last!" murmured Mont to himself.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+THE OWNER OF THE SUBMARINE MONSTER.
+
+
+Of the two who had entered one was a negro, with intelligent but flat
+face, and short, woolly hair.
+
+The other was a tall, handsome white man, with keen, searching eyes that
+looked into the very soul.
+
+He wore a thick mustache, whiskers, and beard, and appeared to be an
+American.
+
+He regarded the prisoners with a fixed gaze and said something to the
+negro in an unknown language, which was so sweet and soft that it seemed
+to be all vowels and no consonants.
+
+At length he fixed his eyes upon the doctor, who, as the eldest of the
+party, seemed to be the leader of it. The professor made a low bow.
+
+"I presume," he said, "that I am in the presence of the proprietor of
+this singular machine, and as I am a man of science I respect one who
+could conceive and carry out the idea of a submarine ship."
+
+There was no answer.
+
+"Permit me to tell you our history," continued the professor.
+
+Still no reply.
+
+"He's remarkably polite," remarked Mont. "Perhaps he don't understand
+our language."
+
+"Leave him to me," said the professor; "my name may have an effect upon
+him. I am Dr. Homer Woddle, Professor of Natural History, and Secretary
+to the Society for the Exploration of the Unknown Parts of the World. I
+have written valuable books, sir, which have been translated into
+foreign languages."
+
+The professor paused to look proudly around him.
+
+Nothing in the face of the man before them indicated that he understood
+one word.
+
+Undaunted by this silence, the doctor continued:
+
+"This, sir, is my friend Mr. Mont Folsom, this my friend Mr. Carl
+Barnaby. The lad is their servant."
+
+There was still no answer, and then the professor grew cross.
+
+He spoke in French, then in German, finally in Greek and Latin; but with
+the same disheartening effect.
+
+Not a muscle of the stranger's face moved.
+
+Turning to the right, he muttered some words in his incomprehensible
+language, and, without making any reassuring sign to the prisoners,
+turned on his heel and walked away, the door closing after him.
+
+"Well, I'm blowed!" said Mont. "This is a queer go, and no mistake."
+
+"I know one thing," said Carl; "that is, I am dying with hunger."
+
+"If they would only give me a saucepan and some fire," said Stump, "I'd
+make some soup."
+
+"How?"
+
+"I've got my boots, and the Unknown who came in let his sealskin cap
+fall. I picked it up and sneaked it. The two together wouldn't make bad
+soup."
+
+While he spoke the door opened again, and another negro entered with a
+tray upon which were four plates.
+
+A savory smell issued from them. Knives and forks were provided, and
+having placed the plates on the table the negro raised the covers.
+
+"Food!" said Mont; "that's good."
+
+"Not up to much, Master Mont, I'll bet," observed Stump.
+
+"What do you know about it?"
+
+"What can they give us? Porpoise stew, fillets of dogfish, or stewed
+shark. I'd rather have some salt junk on board the ship."
+
+The negro disappeared with the covers, and all but Stump sat down.
+
+"Fire away, Stump," said Mont, looking at the dishes.
+
+"After you; I can wait," replied the boy-of-all-work.
+
+"Sit down, I tell you. When people are shipwrecked they are all equal.
+Pitch in," answered Mont.
+
+Stump sat down. There was no bread, tea, or coffee, but a bottle of
+water supplied its place.
+
+It was difficult to say what the dinner consisted of. It was a mixture
+of fish and vegetable matter, but not an atom of meat.
+
+For some time no one spoke. The business of eating was all-absorbing,
+for one must eat, especially after a shipwreck.
+
+It was consoling to reflect they were not destined to die of hunger.
+
+"I think," exclaimed Stump, when he had finished his plate, "that they
+mean to fatten us before they kill us!"
+
+"Hold your tongue till you are spoken to," said Mont.
+
+"Yes, sir. I know I'm only an odd boy, but----"
+
+"Shut up, I tell you. I want to go to sleep."
+
+"Certainly, sir. Sorry I took the liberty, but if I don't talk to
+somebody I must talk to myself."
+
+"Try it on, that's all, and if you wake me when I'm asleep, I'll give
+you something for yourself. I'm just getting dry, and shall sleep like a
+top," answered our hero, throwing himself in a corner.
+
+The professor, who was worn out, had already chosen his corner.
+
+Carl followed his example, and soon all slept.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+THE ATTACK.
+
+
+How long he slept Mont did not know.
+
+He woke first, and saw his companions snoring like those who are
+over-tired.
+
+Nothing was changed in the apartment, except that the remains of the
+dinner had been removed.
+
+It was with difficulty that he managed to breathe, and he guessed that
+he had consumed all the oxygen in his prison. His lungs were oppressed,
+and the heavy air was not sufficient for proper respiration.
+
+While Mont was arranging his toilet a valve opened in the side of the
+room, and a fresh current of sea air swept into the cabin.
+
+Evidently the vessel had ascended to the surface of the ocean and taken
+in a fresh supply of air.
+
+The others, influenced by this invigorating atmosphere, woke up, and
+rubbing their eyes started to their feet.
+
+Stump looked at Mont and asked if he had slept well.
+
+"Pretty well. How are you, Mr. Professor?"
+
+"I breathe the sea air, and I am content," answered Dr. Woddle. "How
+long have we slept? It must be four-and-twenty hours, at least, for I am
+hungry again; I cannot tell to a certainty, for my watch has stopped."
+
+"There is one comfort," replied Mont, "we are not in the hands of
+cannibals, and we shall be well treated."
+
+"I don't know about that," said Stump. "They've got no fresh meat on
+board; all they gave us yesterday was fishy stuff; and four fine, fat,
+healthy fellows----"
+
+"Shut up, Stump," cried Mont; "how often am I to tell you to hold your
+tongue?"
+
+"I know I'm only an odd boy, but----"
+
+"Will you be quiet?" exclaimed our hero, taking up a stool
+threateningly.
+
+"All right; I won't say anything more."
+
+The doctor was very silent and thoughtful. Mont remarked this, and said:
+
+"How long do you think they will keep us here?"
+
+"I can't tell any more than you, Folsom," replied the professor.
+
+"But what is your opinion?"
+
+"Not a very encouraging one. We have by chance become possessed of an
+important secret. If the secret is worth more than our lives, we shall
+either be killed or kept prisoners."
+
+"Forever?"
+
+"Yes, forever," answered the professor gravely. "If the secret is not
+very serious, we may be landed on some island. I advise that we remain
+perfectly quiet and take things as they come."
+
+"May I say a word?" exclaimed Stump.
+
+"Well?" asked Mont.
+
+"I'll get out of this."
+
+"How? It is difficult to break out of a prison on earth, but to get out
+of one under the sea is impossible."
+
+"Suppose we kill our jailers and take the key? If four Americans aren't
+a match for a lot of niggers, and one Unknown who can't speak any
+language, and doesn't belong to any country at all, it's time we shut up
+shop!" went on Stump.
+
+At that moment the door opened, and the negro who had before appeared
+entered.
+
+Stump instantly threw himself upon him, and, seizing his throat with his
+two hands, held him so tightly as almost to strangle him.
+
+But being a powerful man, he soon disengaged himself, and a fearful
+struggle ensued between them.
+
+"Help, help!" cried the negro, in excellent English.
+
+Stump let go his hold at this, and fell back laughing.
+
+"So you can talk English!" he cried; "that's all right. I only flew at
+you to see what countryman you were. Now, then, tell us all about this
+ship, or I'll give you another dose."
+
+Putting his finger to his lips, the negro gave a peculiar
+whistle--prolonged and shrill.
+
+This was evidently a signal, for he had scarcely finished when the
+Unknown appeared on the threshold.
+
+He was followed by six powerful negroes, all armed to the teeth.
+
+It looked as if Mont and his friends were to be executed on the spot.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+PRISONERS.
+
+
+For several minutes the master of the submarine monster gazed in silence
+at those in the iron-bound cabin.
+
+Stump stood shivering in a corner.
+
+"Please don't kill us!" he cried. "I--I--didn't mean any harm."
+
+The strange owner of the still stranger craft looked at Stump for a
+moment, and then smiled faintly.
+
+"Depart!" he cried to the negroes, and on the instant every one of the
+heavily armed men vanished.
+
+Sitting down on the edge of the table, with his arms crossed on his
+powerful chest, this strange being seemed plunged in deep thought.
+
+Our heroes regarded him with expectation, not unmixed with awe, for they
+were entirely in his power.
+
+Was he about to punish them for the indiscretion of one of their number?
+
+At length he spoke in English.
+
+"Gentlemen," he said, "you see I can speak your language. I did not
+answer you at first, because I was undecided what to do with you. I am
+well acquainted with the scientific works written by Dr. Woddle, and I
+esteem it an honor to have made his acquaintance."
+
+The professor bowed his acknowledgment of this compliment.
+
+"I am also glad to see two intelligent young gentlemen like Mr. Folsom
+and Mr. Barnaby."
+
+"You've forgotten me, sir," said Stump. "I'm only an odd boy, but----"
+
+The captain extended his arm, and the hired boy was silent.
+
+"I'm a man," he continued, "who has broken with society and renounced
+the world. Had you not molested me and fired at my vessel, I should not
+have crippled your ship and upset your boat. The attack came from your
+side."
+
+"But, sir," answered the professor, "we took your ship to be some
+unknown creature."
+
+"Possibly, but this creature had done you no harm. I saw you all take
+refuge outside, and I hesitated a long while what to do with you. I knew
+nothing of you. What were you to me? Why should I extend my hospitality
+to you? All that was necessary to break off your connection, was to give
+a signal to my engineers, and the _Searcher_, which is the name of my
+vessel, would have sunk to the bottom of the ocean. I had the right to
+do it."
+
+His hearers shuddered at this avowal.
+
+"It seems to me that we are to be prisoners?" observed the professor.
+
+"Certainly."
+
+"But this is an outrage!" exclaimed Mont. "I demand to be put on shore
+at the nearest port, or given up to the nearest ship we meet."
+
+"You will none of you ever see the earth again, or set foot upon it,"
+replied the captain with much emphasis.
+
+"This floating prison is, then, our tomb--our coffin, in which we must
+live and die?"
+
+"Call it what you will," replied the captain. "You have obtained the
+secret of my existence. Do you think I could ever allow you to revisit
+the world, to let it be known through every newspaper how I pass my
+life?"
+
+"How are we to address you, sir?"
+
+"My name is Vindex. By my men I am called the Wizard of the Sea."
+
+"Very well, Captain Vindex of the _Searcher_," said Mont, "we must make
+the best of our situation, but I will never give my word that I will not
+attempt to escape."
+
+"I like you, boy, for your honesty," said the Wizard of the Sea, "though
+I warn you that if you are caught in the attempt, you will be instantly
+put to death."
+
+"To death? You dare not!"
+
+The captain laughed in a wild, weird manner.
+
+"Dare not!" he said. "Foolish lad, there are no laws for me. I am the
+sole master here. My black slaves only live to do my bidding. What is
+your life or death to me? I have no more to say at present. Follow this
+negro into another cabin, where a repast awaits you."
+
+He called to someone outside, and, bowing politely, went away, while the
+four companions were conducted to a dining room handsomely furnished
+and lighted by an electric lamp.
+
+Various preparations invited their attention. The dinner service was of
+silver, and everything denoted immense wealth on the part of the owner.
+
+The negro waited upon them attentively.
+
+"What's your name?" asked Mont.
+
+"Me name One, massa."
+
+"One!"
+
+"Yes, massa. There twelve slaves on board this ship, and all have figure
+names, me One, other nigger Two, other Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven,
+Eight, and so on up to Twelve."
+
+"That's a queer idea," said our hero; "fancy calling out for your
+servant, and saying, 'Here, Nine, I want you,' or 'I say, Three, do
+this'!"
+
+"It is my opinion," exclaimed the professor, "that Captain Vindex is a
+very remarkable man--the most remarkable, in fact, that ever lived. He
+has invented a singular ship which can go under the sea at will, but why
+not? Was not the invention of steam engines laughed at, as well as the
+invention of gas? Who, a hundred years ago, would have believed in the
+electric telegraph, by means of which we send a message to the end of
+the earth in a minute?"
+
+"Very true," replied Mont. "And don't forget the telephone, and the
+submarine boat the government is trying to build. It's a pity a man of
+such genius should shut himself up like this, though."
+
+"It is a pity," answered the professor.
+
+"What's worse, though," remarked Carl, "is that he means to keep us as
+prisoners."
+
+"If he can," said Stump.
+
+"Don't you be so fast, Stump, my boy," said Mont. "Keep your mouth shut,
+or you may get into trouble."
+
+"Very sorry, but I don't like such goings-on, and wish I was back again
+on the shore."
+
+The negro handed the professor a fresh dish.
+
+"Will massa have some oysters stewed in whale's milk?" he asked; "or
+some jam made of sea anemones?"
+
+"I'd rather you'd not tell me what the dishes are; it will set me
+against them if you do," answered the professor with a wry face.
+
+When the repast was ended, Mont jumped up. "I feel better," he said.
+"Mister Number One."
+
+"Massa call me?" asked the black, who was clearing away.
+
+"Yes. Where are we now?"
+
+"We gone down, massa, and now we lie at the bottom of the sea."
+
+Mont regarded him with undisguised astonishment.
+
+The _Searcher_ was indeed a wonderful craft.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+THE MYSTERIES OF THE "SEARCHER."
+
+
+Many days passed.
+
+The lives of the captives were unvaried by any incident. They saw
+nothing of Captain Vindex; were well attended to, slept comfortably, and
+had nothing to complain of but their imprisonment.
+
+Books were freely supplied them, but they were not allowed to leave
+their cabins.
+
+At the expiration of a fortnight or thereabouts, as well as they could
+reckon, negro Number One entered their cabin after breakfast.
+
+Addressing Mont, the negro observed:
+
+"Massa Folsom to come to cappen's cabin."
+
+"Does he want me?" inquired Mont. "All right. Good-by, my friends," he
+added, "perhaps you will never see me again. I may be the first victim."
+
+"No fear!" exclaimed Carl. "We shan't be hurt if we keep quiet."
+
+"I'll suggest that you're the fattest, Carl, if there is any question of
+cooking one of us."
+
+"Then it won't be true, for you're as fat as a mole. Go on and be cooked
+first! I'll have a bit of you," answered Barnaby.
+
+Mont went away laughing. He was not really alarmed, for although he did
+not like Captain Vindex, he fancied he was safe as long as he did not
+irritate this strange being.
+
+The negro conducted him along a passage which opened into a magnificent
+library, full of books, which gave admittance to a drawing room
+furnished with all the taste that could be found in Paris or New York.
+
+The space within the ironclad shell had been made the most of, and no
+expense had been spared to make the cabin luxurious and well appointed.
+
+The walls were richly papered and covered with valuable paintings. The
+ceiling was frescoed, and works of art were everywhere to be seen. Rich
+couches and chairs invited rest, and the foot sank in the soft pile of a
+Turkey carpet.
+
+Captain Vindex arose as our hero entered.
+
+"Take a seat," he said, as the negro retired, closing the door after
+him. "I have taken an interest in you, Folsom."
+
+"Thank you," answered Mont coldly.
+
+The captain smiled, approached the end of the room, and, drawing back a
+curtain, revealed a splendid organ.
+
+"Do you like music?" he asked.
+
+"Very much," answered Mont. "Play us something. It will enliven me a
+bit. I feel awfully low, and I'll give you a game at dominoes or
+checkers afterwards, if you like."
+
+Captain Vindex smiled, and, sitting down, played Sousa's "Liberty Bell
+March" with great skill.
+
+"Thank you," said Mont, when he had finished. "Very fine. Now will you
+tell me how you manage for air?"
+
+"I will not trouble you with chemical details," answered the captain,
+"which you would not understand, but when I do not take in air at the
+surface, I have some compressed in the reservoir, which, by means of an
+apparatus, is wafted all over the ship."
+
+"And about light and moving about?"
+
+"That is the result of electricity, which I make myself. My motive power
+is electricity, and I can attain a speed of thirty miles an hour. The
+men of the world have not yet discovered half the value of electricity.
+My machinery is of the finest kind. If I want to sink to the bottom of
+the sea, I fill certain reservoirs I have with water; when I want to
+rise, I lighten the ship by letting out the water. In short, I have
+invented everything that is necessary for my safety and comfort."
+
+"Wonderful!" ejaculated Mont.
+
+"Your friend, the professor, would understand me, if I were to explain
+to him how everything were managed, but to you it all seems as strange
+as the first railway train did to the country people through whose
+districts it passed. Engineering science is yet in its infancy. The
+world has great discoveries to make. You are at present only on the
+threshold of the great unknown."
+
+"You work your ship with a screw, I suppose?"
+
+"Exactly. The helmsman sits in a cabin with a glass front, and the
+electric light illumines the sea for some distance, so that all is clear
+to him."
+
+"Where did you build this extraordinary vessel?" continued our hero.
+
+"On a desert island in the Pacific. I had the various parts brought in a
+vessel that belonged to me from various parts of the world, and the
+twelve negroes who are now with me were my only workmen."
+
+"You are rich, then?"
+
+"Money was never any object to me," replied the captain. "If I wanted
+gold even now, could I not obtain millions from the bottom of the sea
+out of ships that have sunk? And some day I shall find the great
+million-dollar pearl for which I am searching. The treasures of the deep
+are mine; I am the Wizard of the Sea."
+
+He spoke proudly, and his eyes dilated with rapture.
+
+"You like the sea?"
+
+"I love it. I revel in it. Look at the solitude and freedom I enjoy!
+What life can be comparable to mine?"
+
+"But you must feel weary at times," said Mont.
+
+"Never. I read, I think, and, when I want diversion, I shoot."
+
+"Where?"
+
+"In the submarine forests. I have invented a square case to strap on the
+back, which is attached to a mask covering the head, and this will
+contain enough compressed air to last for several hours' consumption, so
+that I can walk under the waves with ease and comfort."
+
+"And your guns?"
+
+"Are air guns, also my own invention. I have several, and each is
+prepared to fire twenty shots by a mere movement of the trigger, the
+requisite force of air being placed in a hollow of the butt end; but all
+these mysteries will become plain to you before you have been long with
+me," answered Captain Vindex.
+
+"What time is it?" asked Mont.
+
+Looking at his watch, the captain answered:
+
+"A quarter to twelve, or near midday."
+
+"If you want to give me a treat," said Mont, "I wish you would go up to
+the surface and let me have a look at the sea, and breathe the fresh
+air."
+
+"Certainly. Come with me to the engine room."
+
+Mont rose, and followed his conductor through several iron passages to
+the place where the machinery was fitted up.
+
+A negro saluted the captain.
+
+"Number Twelve," exclaimed the latter, "I wish to ascend."
+
+The engineer touched a valve, and a rush of water escaping was heard.
+
+The pumps were forcing out the water from the reservoirs.
+
+The _Searcher_ began to ascend. After a time she stopped suddenly.
+
+"We have arrived," said the captain.
+
+He led the way up a central spiral staircase, and, raising a small door,
+they emerged upon what may be called the deck, or what our hero and his
+companions had taken to be the back of the monster.
+
+Touching a spring, an iron railing sprang up, about five feet high.
+
+This prevented any danger of falling into the sea in rough weather, for
+it made a small inclosure about twenty feet by ten.
+
+Mont saw that the shape of the ship was something like a long cigar.
+
+The sea was calm and the sky clear; a light breeze fanned their cheeks
+as Mont opened his lungs to take in the inviting atmosphere.
+
+There was, however, nothing to be seen. All was one vast desert.
+
+The captain proceeded, armed with a sextant, to take the height of the
+sun, which would give him his latitude.
+
+He waited some minutes until the sun attained the edge of the horizon.
+
+Having calculated the longitude chronometrically, he said:
+
+"To-day I commence a voyage of exploration under the waves."
+
+"When you like," replied Mont; "anything for a little excitement."
+
+The captain conducted him downstairs again, the iron railing fell, the
+trapdoor closed overhead, and with a bow the strange being left him to
+join his companions.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+THE DEVIL FISH.
+
+
+
+"He's about half crazy!"
+
+Such was Mont's conclusion as he joined his companions.
+
+While Mont was telling the others of what he had seen, all were treated
+to a surprise.
+
+A panel in the wall slid back.
+
+A large sheet of very thick plate glass, quite transparent, was revealed
+to view almost immediately; a flood of electric light lit up the sea for
+some distance, and everything was as clear as daylight.
+
+It was as if they were looking at an immense aquarium.
+
+"The captain is giving us a surprise," remarked the professor; "this is
+charming."
+
+Innumerable fishes of various kinds, most of which were unknown, even to
+a naturalist of Dr. Woddle's standing, passed before them.
+
+Strange, wild, fierce-looking things, with wonderful tails and heads.
+
+Some looking unmistakably voracious, others being long and slimy like
+hideous snakes.
+
+They were doubtless attracted by the electric light.
+
+For two hours the four companions gazed at the ever-changing procession,
+without the least abatement of their delight.
+
+Presently the door opened, and a negro handed the professor a letter.
+
+He opened it and read its contents aloud.
+
+"Captain Vindex presents his compliments to Professor Woddle, and will
+be glad if he and his companions will accept an invitation to shoot in
+the weed forests under the sea to-morrow morning at ten o'clock."
+
+"I'll be hanged if I go!" exclaimed Stump. "Not if I know it. I'm safe
+here, but I don't want to be chawed up by some strange reptile."
+
+"Silence, boy!" said the professor. "Tell Captain Vindex," he continued,
+to the negro, "that we are much obliged to him for his invitation, which
+we gladly accept."
+
+The negro bowed and retired.
+
+At the time appointed the professor and the boys were conducted to a
+cabin, which may be called the dressing-room, or arsenal, of the
+_Searcher_.
+
+Hanging on the walls were numerous helmets, such as divers wear, and a
+number of guns reposed on hooks.
+
+At the last moment Stump had determined to accompany the party.
+
+Captain Vindex was already there, and received them graciously.
+
+"I wish you good-day, professor," he said; "and you, too, my boys. I
+think we shall enjoy some excellent sport among the sea otters and other
+animals worth killing. You, Dr. Woddle, will be able to add to your
+knowledge of natural history, for we are about to traverse a forest of
+remarkable seaweeds and plants, in which you will find all kinds of
+submarine life."
+
+"I am obliged to you for your kindness, sir, and put myself entirely at
+your disposal," replied the professor.
+
+At a signal from the captain, two negroes assisted our heroes to put on
+their apparel, and clothed them in thick waterproof made of India
+rubber, which formed trousers and vest, the trousers terminating in a
+pair of shoes with lead soles; a cuirass of leather protected the chest
+from the pressure of the water, and allowed the lungs full play.
+
+Supple gloves covered the hands, the helmet was then put on, and the
+knapsack of compressed air adjusted on the back.
+
+To each one was given a gun, the butt of which was of brass and hollow.
+
+Here was stored the compressed air which discharged the electric
+bullets, one of which fell into its proper place just as the other had
+been shot away. The whole mechanism was perfect.
+
+When all was ready they stepped into an empty cabin, the door closed
+behind them, and, touching a knob, the captain allowed the room to fill
+with water.
+
+Then he opened a door and they walked out into the sea.
+
+Each had an electric lamp fastened to the waist, which made their path
+clear and distinct, enabling them to see every object through the glass
+holes in their helmets.
+
+The captain walked in front with the professor.
+
+Carl and Mont were side by side, and Stump brought up the rear.
+
+Walking was not very difficult, and the supply of air, well charged with
+the oxygen necessary for prolonged respiration, was all that could be
+wished. It entered as it was required from the knapsack reservoir, and
+escaped when used through a turret at the top of the circular helmet.
+
+They proceeded along fine sand, covered with a variety of shells, for at
+least a mile, when they came to some rocks covered with beautiful
+anemones.
+
+Innumerable fish sported around them; long, writhing eels, of a
+prodigious size, with ugly, flat snake-like heads, glided away at their
+approach, and thousands of jelly fish danced about their heads.
+
+They were not at a great depth, and presumably were near some island,
+for Mont, looking up, saw the sun overhead, guessing the depth to be
+about thirty or forty feet.
+
+The sun's rays easily penetrated the waves, and made a kaleidoscope of
+colors inconceivably beautiful.
+
+If the party could have spoken they would have given vent to their
+admiration in no measured terms.
+
+The least sound was transmitted easily, showing that the sea is a better
+conductor of noise than land.
+
+By degrees the depth increased, and they must have been a hundred yards
+from the surface, as the pressure of the water increased.
+
+Mont suffered no inconvenience except a slight tingling in the ears and
+fingers.
+
+He moved with ease, and was intensely delighted with the wonderful bed
+of sea flowers which gave place to the fine sand they had been
+traversing.
+
+A dark mass extended itself before them; and Captain Vindex, extending
+his hand, indicated the beginning of the forest.
+
+It was composed of large seaweeds and plants, which extended in a
+straight manner, having no drooping branches; all were erect and
+motionless.
+
+When displaced by the hand they resumed a perpendicular position.
+
+They scarcely had any roots in the sand, and were evidently nourished by
+the water and not by the earth.
+
+Some were long and slender, others short and bushy, covered with
+blossoms of various colors; others, again, reached a height equal to our
+forest trees.
+
+They had not proceeded far through this dense jungle of weeds, among
+which it was difficult to pick a path, when the captain halted.
+
+In front of him was a huge octopus, or devil fish, over three feet in
+diameter, with long, terrible arms.
+
+It endeavored to seize the professor, who, sinking on his knees,
+shivered in silent terror!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+MONT IS LOST.
+
+
+It looked as if Professor Woddle's last moment had come.
+
+In a moment more the devil fish had the shivering man in its fearful
+embrace.
+
+The captain and Mont, however, raised their guns, and with one shot left
+it convulsed in its dying agonies.
+
+As they continued to descend into a valley, bounded on each side by high
+rocks, the darkness increased, for the sun's rays could not penetrate
+more than a hundred and fifty yards.
+
+It was now that the electric lamps became of importance.
+
+As they got lower and lower, Mont felt an oppression about the head, and
+a great desire to sleep overcame him.
+
+He lagged behind the others, and with difficulty kept up with them.
+
+Several fine sea otters were seen in front, playing about amongst the
+weeds.
+
+The captain fired, and the others followed his example.
+
+Three fell dead, one of which Stump took up and threw over his shoulder.
+
+Suddenly Mont sank down on the ground and immediately fell asleep.
+
+His companions, in the eagerness of their chase after the game that had
+escaped, did not notice his absence.
+
+They had proceeded fully half a mile, when Barnaby, looking back, was
+unable to discover any trace of Mont.
+
+He at once ran to the captain and made signs, pointing to himself, the
+professor, and Stump, and pointing in different directions to intimate
+that Mont was lost.
+
+Captain Vindex at once comprehended his meaning.
+
+He retraced his steps, going carefully over the ground they had
+trodden.
+
+It was without success, for nowhere could they find the slightest trace
+of their unfortunate companion.
+
+Carl would have given worlds had he been able to speak.
+
+He was profoundly agitated, for it was horrible to think that his chum
+was lost under the sea, not knowing his way back to the _Searcher_, for
+they had come a roundabout way.
+
+Captain Vindex was also annoyed.
+
+If Mont chose he could climb up the rocks and reach the summit.
+
+There he might take off his helmet, and breathe the free air of heaven.
+
+But would he think of this?
+
+Perhaps in his confusion he would wander about in the effort to meet his
+companions, and at last be suffocated miserably.
+
+The supply of air with which each was provided was not sufficient to
+last more than five hours.
+
+Two of those hours' supply had been already consumed.
+
+It was necessary that Captain Vindex and those with him should think of
+returning to the ship.
+
+Making a sign, he led the way back.
+
+Carl felt inclined to stay and die in the attempt to find his friend.
+
+It would have been an immense relief to him to have said something, but
+not a sound could he make audible outside his helmet.
+
+With sad and weary steps they traversed the lovely valley, which had
+lost all its former attractions for the party.
+
+The forest was passed and the sand regained.
+
+They were not more than two miles from the _Searcher_.
+
+Carl determined to make a last effort.
+
+He seized the captain's arm and pointed pathetically, almost
+imploringly, to the dense mass of vegetation behind them.
+
+His mute appeal to go back after Mont was comprehended.
+
+But it was disregarded.
+
+Their own lives would have been in jeopardy had they turned back.
+
+The air in the reservoirs was becoming weak and impure.
+
+Shaking his head in a negative manner, the captain pursued his way.
+
+With a heavy heart Carl followed him, and in time the ship was reached.
+
+They entered the water room, closed the doors, and the captain touched a
+bell.
+
+Directly it sounded within the vessel, the pumps were heard at work, the
+water gradually lowered, and when it was all out they opened the inner
+door and regained the dressing-room.
+
+It was indeed a pleasure to have the helmets removed, for they had
+retained them so long that they were oppressed and ill.
+
+The captain was the first to speak.
+
+"I am very sorry for the misfortune that has happened," he exclaimed;
+"you must not think me hard-hearted because I returned."
+
+"But Mont will die," answered Carl; "he is lost, and does not know his
+way back."
+
+"His supply of air will last another hour and a half. There is yet
+hope."
+
+"What can we do?"
+
+"I will send out a party to search for him, and I will head it myself,"
+replied Captain Vindex.
+
+At this generous offer Carl's heart was filled with fresh hope.
+
+The captain gave orders for three negroes to accompany him.
+
+They were soon dressed and supplied with air, Captain Vindex himself
+taking a fresh reservoir.
+
+Then the ceremony of going out was repeated, and, as the exploring party
+quitted the ship, all Carl could do was to pray fervently for their
+success.
+
+He, the professor, and Stump were very languid, and, in spite of their
+anxiety, they could not shake off the somnolent effects of their long
+walk.
+
+Each sank down on the floor of their cabin, and was soon fast asleep.
+
+How long they remained there they did not know.
+
+Barnaby awoke, feeling a hand laid on his shoulder. It was Captain
+Vindex.
+
+Springing to his feet in an instant, he said:
+
+"Have you found him? Where is Mont?"
+
+"Unhappily," said the captain, "we could find no trace of him."
+
+"Why did I let him go last? I ought to have had him in front of me,"
+cried Carl angrily. "Poor Mont! he is lying at the bottom of the sea,
+and I shall never see him again. Never, never!"
+
+He covered his face with his hands, and the tears trickled down his
+cheeks.
+
+"I have dispatched another party to seek for him," exclaimed the
+captain; "I am too worn out to go with them this time. If they find the
+body, we may restore him to consciousness."
+
+"There is no hope," said Carl sadly; "you are the cause of his death.
+Why did you inclose us in this tomb, and then take one of us in the sea
+to die?"
+
+"Was it my fault? You are hasty, my boy, and do me great injustice. I am
+as much grieved as yourself, for I had begun to love that lad," said the
+captain feelingly. "We will mourn for him together; there is a silent
+friendship in grief. We are friends, for we have the same sorrow."
+
+In a few hours the searching party came back, weary and unsuccessful.
+
+They could see nothing of Mont.
+
+Everyone gave up all hope, and our hero was mourned for as one dead.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+MONT'S PERIL.
+
+
+"Where am I? Where are you, Carl?"
+
+After about an hour's sleep Mont was aroused by an acute sensation of
+pain in his right leg.
+
+Stretching out his hand, he encountered a slimy substance, and withdrew
+it very quickly.
+
+Leaning on his elbow, he saw by the light of his lamp that a strange
+fish, with a head like a frying-pan and a body resembling that of a
+codfish, was biting through his waterproof covering and trying to eat
+part of his leg.
+
+In an instant he seized his gun, and, firing at its eye, wounded it
+grievously, causing it to splash about and retreat into a mass of weeds,
+where its struggles continued for some time.
+
+For a moment Mont forgot where he was.
+
+But as his senses came back to him, he recollected everything, and,
+rising, looked about for his companions.
+
+As he could see nothing of them, a horrible fear took possession of him,
+and he trembled from head to foot.
+
+They had lost him in the depths of the ocean.
+
+Without an experienced guide like Captain Vindex, it was impossible for
+him to find his way back.
+
+The dangerous and perhaps fatal sleep which had overcome him must be
+fought against.
+
+For if it came on again he knew he must die.
+
+How much precious air had he not consumed already?
+
+To him, in his condition, air was life.
+
+He knew that he had only a supply for a limited period.
+
+The only course that remained open to him was to march as quickly as the
+dense mass of water would let him, and try to regain the _Searcher_.
+
+But though he turned round, he could not find the sandy plain they had
+first traversed on leaving the ship.
+
+The forest of sea weeds, rising straight as arrows on all sides of him,
+erect and motionless, grew dense; animal life was everywhere.
+
+Strange fishes glared at him, and seemed to mock his misery by their
+quick, darting movements and sportive gambols.
+
+He pushed his way fiercely through the vegetable growth, but only to
+become more entangled.
+
+All at once the ground became hilly, and it seemed as if he had come to
+the end of the valley and was ascending one of the sides.
+
+He pushed on, thinking he would give the world to be able to rise to the
+surface.
+
+If he could only penetrate that thick water and float on the top of the
+waves, breathing the free air of heaven, he would have gladly done so,
+even if he were to die an hour afterward.
+
+Gradually he quitted the forest, and the sun's rays began to be visible
+again.
+
+Decidedly he must be getting higher.
+
+Presently a great black mass appeared at his side.
+
+He could see that it was a ferocious shark, whose huge mouth seemed
+capable of engulfing him.
+
+Instinctively he threw himself on his back.
+
+The voracious creature had made a dart at him, but shot past,
+disappointed of its prey.
+
+If it had seized his arm or his leg, or even his head, one snap of its
+mouth would have been sufficient to cut off either.
+
+As the animal swam around him Mont pointed his gun and fired.
+
+The shot entered its stomach, but was not mortal.
+
+Another and another followed, and at last the vast mass floated slowly
+upward, showing that it was dead.
+
+Thanking Providence for this narrow escape, and congratulating himself
+on his presence of mind, our hero continued the ascent.
+
+The path became steep and rugged, and it was with difficulty that he
+made his way.
+
+He was evidently ascending the side of a rock, which became more
+precipitous as he went on.
+
+Where did it lead?
+
+Was it raised above the surface or did it fall short of it?
+
+If so, he would have his trouble for nothing.
+
+He breathed with an effort, and his breath grew shorter and shorter
+every moment, for he was making a great demand upon his reservoir of air
+while undergoing strong exertion.
+
+At length he had to stop.
+
+It seemed as if his strength were failing him.
+
+The sleepy feeling overtook him again, and he leaned back against the
+shining rock, which reflected the sun's rays.
+
+He was face to face with death.
+
+Not much longer would his lungs be supplied with breathing air.
+
+Suffocation threatened Mont with a painful end, yet he was so weak and
+prostrate that he seemed unable to make another effort.
+
+Every moment was of priceless value.
+
+At last he went on.
+
+How he did it he never knew; but he managed to climb the almost
+perpendicular rocks, which afforded little or no footing.
+
+At last the sun's rays were more vivid, and, with a feeling of wonder,
+Mont found himself moving with comparative ease.
+
+This was because he had reached the summit of the rock after climbing
+nearly two hundred and fifty yards.
+
+He was out of the water.
+
+With nervous hands he tore off his helmet, and, lying on his side,
+inhaled the air for a few minutes.
+
+"I am saved, saved!" cried Mont delightedly.
+
+He rose at length, and looked around him.
+
+The rock on which he was standing was a narrow, barren peak, which just
+rose above the surface, and that was all.
+
+The remainder of the ledge was under water. If he had not ascended in
+that place he must have died.
+
+Afar off was what appeared to be a small island. But whether it was an
+arid desert or not he was unable to tell.
+
+"Perhaps I shall die of hunger and thirst," he muttered; "but death is
+better here than in the forest under the sea."
+
+Sleep again overcame him, and he passed several hours in a deep slumber.
+
+With wakefulness came a horrible sensation of hunger and thirst.
+
+While he was gazing around him, with despair again attacking him, he
+saw something rise in the sea a short distance off.
+
+He thought he recognized the black back of the _Searcher_, and he was
+not mistaken.
+
+The trapdoor opened, and two men appeared on the platform.
+
+They were Captain Vindex and Professor Woddle.
+
+Mont tried to cry out, but only a feeble sound came from his lips.
+
+He, however, waved his hands, and the signal was seen.
+
+Soon the electric boat floated gently to the rock.
+
+He stepped on the platform, which was by this time crowded with the
+crew, Carl, and Stump.
+
+The next moment he was in the arms of kind friends.
+
+He sank fainting at their feet, and was carried below, where he remained
+some days before he entirely recovered his strength.
+
+Captain Vindex had entertained an idea that Mont might reach the surface
+by climbing up the rocks, although he scarcely dared to hold this
+opinion as a certainty.
+
+But when nothing could be seen of him below the surface, he resolved to
+look for him above.
+
+Consequently the _Searcher_ rose under his orders, with the happy result
+we have described.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+THE WRECKS.
+
+
+When Mont was fully recovered, the negro Number One announced that they
+were going on a long voyage.
+
+"Massa say him start for, um South Pole," he said. "In one hour we be
+off, and travel for many week. Travel to the Pole."
+
+In effect, they soon heard the motion of the machinery, and the
+_Searcher_ began her long submarine cruise.
+
+For about a week they saw nothing of the captain.
+
+This mysterious man shut himself up and sought intercourse with no one.
+
+Every day, for some hours, the panel in their cabin slid back, and they
+enjoyed the treat of looking at the sea lighted by electricity.
+
+The direction of the _Searcher_ was southeast, and she kept at a depth
+of a hundred to a hundred and fifty feet.
+
+One day, while the electric ship was stopping to replenish her power, a
+curious incident happened.
+
+Stump was looking out of the window, and he suddenly exclaimed:
+
+"What is that, sir?"
+
+Everyone went to examine, and a ship dismantled was seen slowly sinking
+to the bottom.
+
+It had foundered a short time before with all hands.
+
+Several men were lashed to the riggings, and their agonized faces
+testified to their late sufferings.
+
+A shoal of sharks followed the sinking wreck with distended eyes,
+anticipating a feast of human flesh.
+
+As the hull passed the window, Mont read her name, which was the
+_Firefly_ of Savannah.
+
+This was not an isolated case, for they frequently saw wrecks, and
+remains of wrecks, such as cannons, anchors, chains, and decaying hulls.
+
+"Well, this is a lively existence," exclaimed Mont; "we eat nothing but
+fish, and see nothing but fish."
+
+"And wrecks," put in Carl.
+
+A heavy step was heard behind them, and all turned round, to see the
+captain.
+
+He placed his hand upon a map, and exclaimed:
+
+"Do you see this island--Malonon? It is where the gallant French
+explorer Posterri perished. We are close to it, and, if you please,
+gentlemen, you shall land and explore it for yourselves."
+
+This was good news.
+
+"But," said the professor, "if I remember rightly, it is inhabited by
+savages."
+
+"Certainly."
+
+"Shall we not be in danger?"
+
+"I fear nothing," said the captain. "I have braved danger among
+civilized nations, and I can afford to despise savages. If you do not
+wish it, however, I will continue my voyage."
+
+"Don't do that, sir," replied Mont. "I'll chance the niggers. Let us
+land. I know Carl and Stump would like it."
+
+"And you, Mr. Professor?" said the captain.
+
+"I, sir, will go anywhere in the interests of science," replied Homer
+Woddle, with a nervous tremor in his voice which showed he did not like
+savages.
+
+The news raised the boys' spirits to the highest pitch.
+
+After confinement on board the _Searcher_ the prospect of going on land
+was enchanting.
+
+No matter what danger they might encounter they were ready.
+
+Carl whispered that they might have a chance of escaping.
+
+Mont said nothing, but he was of the same opinion.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+ON LAND ONCE MORE.
+
+
+The party were allowed to go on shore without even promising to return,
+and the heart of each beat high with the prospect of liberty before
+them.
+
+Professor Woddle explained that they might traverse the country nearby,
+and so get to some port, but the journey would be perilous in the
+extreme.
+
+His advice was to camp in the wood, obtain fresh provisions, and await
+the course of events.
+
+Stump alone was in doubt.
+
+"The captain," he remarked, "is a wonderful man, and knows perfectly
+well what he is about. He has told us we shall never again set our feet
+on civilized ground, has he not?"
+
+"Yes. Everyone knows that," answered the professor.
+
+"He'll keep his word, and I'll bet a new hat we are on board again
+to-morrow, or perhaps to-day."
+
+"I'll take you," replied Mont, "though how the bet is to be paid I don't
+know, as there are no hat shops on board the boat."
+
+"I'd give something to find out all about our skipper," said Carl. "He
+is the most curious beggar I ever met. All four of us are not a match
+for him."
+
+"Speak for yourself, my young but still intelligent friend," answered
+the professor. "Time will show."
+
+"We'll have some fresh meat soon," observed Stump, "and if you'll trust
+the cooking to me, Master Mont, you shall have a dinner fit for a king
+in half an hour after running down the game."
+
+"A little venison or wild boar, which is pork, would be very
+acceptable," answered the professor; "and my knowledge of natural
+history enables me to tell you that we shall find both on this island
+which we are about to visit."
+
+"Roast pork--lovely! It makes my mouth water," said Stump.
+
+"Do you want to have the jaw all to yourself?" asked Mont. "Go and ask
+when the boat will be ready to take us ashore."
+
+Stump departed on his errand and found the boat already prepared for
+them.
+
+It was made of various pieces of wood, which were easily put together
+when it was wanted and taken apart when it was not required.
+
+It would hold half a dozen men, and floated by the side of the
+_Searcher_.
+
+Each of the four companions was provided with an electric gun containing
+the usual twenty shots.
+
+"A pleasant excursion, gentlemen," said the captain, as they emerged on
+the platform; "I hope you do not intend to deprive me for any length of
+time of the pleasure of your society."
+
+"Wouldn't do such a thing for worlds, sir," answered our hero.
+
+"You needn't return to-night, if you prefer camping out."
+
+"We didn't mean to," replied Mont.
+
+A peculiar smile crossed Captain Vindex's expressive face, as if he
+guessed what was passing in the youth's mind.
+
+"Remember one thing," he said; "be very careful of your ammunition."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"You will find out in time. All I have to say is, recollect my advice,"
+was the answer.
+
+They got into the boat and rowed ashore, picking their way carefully
+through the coral reefs, and in five minutes the bottom of the boat
+grated upon a sandy beach.
+
+"Hurrah!" cried Mont, throwing up his cap; "land once more!"
+
+Stump, who was thoroughly familiar with all the tricks of boys, put down
+his hands and "turned a wheel," after which he stood on his head, to
+give expression to his delight.
+
+Huge forests stretched far inland, and raised their mighty heads a
+hundred feet from the earth.
+
+Palms, shrubs, and creepers were mingled with the trees in grand
+confusion, and this scene, in the glowing sunshine, was indescribably
+beautiful.
+
+The professor saw a cocoanut palm, and, knocking off some of the fruit,
+gave it to the boys, who pronounced it delicious.
+
+"Now," he said, "we will shoot something and dine as we have not dined
+for a long time."
+
+"I've some salt in my pocket, and Stump has knives," remarked Carl.
+
+"It looks to me," said Mont, "as if we were likely to have a sirloin of
+tiger for dinner; that forest ought to be full of wild beasts."
+
+"No matter," answered Carl, "anything's better than fish. Come on."
+
+They skirted the forest, fearing to enter it lest they might lose
+themselves in its dense interior.
+
+Keeping their guns ready for instant action, they proceeded about half a
+mile, when the professor held up his hand.
+
+In front of them was a large breadfruit tree, and under its branches was
+a wild boar, engaged in eating the tender fruit which had fallen to the
+ground.
+
+"Approach gently, and fire all together," said the professor.
+
+They did so, and four shots were discharged at the same time.
+
+The wild boar uttered a ferocious grunt, ran a few paces, and fell down
+dead.
+
+"What is it, sir?" asked Carl.
+
+"A wild boar; do you not see his tusks? Now, Stumpton, set to work, and
+cut a leg of pork off piggy. You, Folsom, make a fire with the dry
+wood; it will kindle when I rub two sticks together. You, Barnaby,
+gather some of this fruit."
+
+"Is it good to eat, sir?"
+
+"You will find it excellent. I recognize it as the breadfruit of the
+tropics, and, cut up in slices and toasted over the fire, nothing could
+be better for us with our roast pork," answered the professor.
+
+They were quickly at work. The fire was lighted, the leg of pork cut off
+and fixed to a tripod, the breadfruit toasted, and plates supplied by
+large palm leaves. Presently a delicious odor of roast pork spread
+itself around.
+
+After living so long on the peculiar fare provided by Captain Vindex,
+they enjoyed their dinner immensely; and, when they had satisfied their
+appetites, they sat down under the shade of a tree, sheltered from the
+noontide heat.
+
+"Now, sir," said Mont, "what are we to do?"
+
+"I have no wish to return to our floating prison," replied the
+professor. "The question is, shall we go back, or shall we try to make
+our way to some port, risking the dangers of the way, the chances of
+starvation?"
+
+"That does not appear likely," answered Mont, thinking of the roast pork
+and the breadfruit.
+
+"When our guns are empty, we may not find it so easy to kill game,
+however abundant it may be. The savages are another danger."
+
+"Put it to the vote, sir," said our hero.
+
+"Certainly; all you who wish to make an effort to escape from the
+thralldom in which we are held, hold up your hands."
+
+Every hand was extended.
+
+"To the contrary?"
+
+There was no response.
+
+"Not a hand," said the professor. "I may, then, conclude, that we are
+unanimous in our wish for freedom, and it is decided that we do not
+return to the _Searcher_."
+
+"Hurrah!" cried Stump, proceeding to stand on his head again.
+
+"If you don't stop those street-arab tricks," remarked Mont, "you'll
+have a fit, after such a meal as you've had."
+
+Stump resumed his natural position.
+
+"There's no lie, sir, about my having had a filler of pork," he replied.
+"But though I'm only an odd boy, I've got my feelings, and I'd as soon
+be a convict as in that there prison ship."
+
+"The youth is right," observed the professor mildly; "to live and die in
+that ship is an awful prospect, and I would rather herd with savages in
+their wilds than do it."
+
+And as if it was intended as an answer to his speech, an arrow flew over
+his head.
+
+Fortunately it missed its mark, and stuck quivering into the bark of the
+tree under which they were sitting.
+
+Everyone sprang to his feet, and stood, gun in hand, on the defensive.
+
+"Savages, by George!" exclaimed Mont.
+
+"Where?" asked the professor.
+
+"To the right, sir. Fire away, and chance it, or we shall all be
+killed."
+
+There was an instant discharge of firearms, and a scuffling was heard
+behind some cactus and mimosa bushes.
+
+A dozen savages, nearly naked, armed with spears and bows and arrows,
+were seen in a state of hesitation, whether to fly or stand their
+ground.
+
+Three of their number had fallen from the discharge, and one, who was
+mortally wounded, was crawling, in a slow, labored manner, into the bush
+to die.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+FIGHTING THE SAVAGES.
+
+
+"They are retreating!" cried Mont joyfully.
+
+"No! no! they are coming on again!" put in Carl, a few seconds later.
+
+"At 'em again, boys; let them have it," said the professor.
+
+"Hot and strong this time, sir," said Stump, advancing a step to take
+better aim.
+
+Again the bullets flew, and three more savages went down.
+
+The others turned to fly to the shelter of the neighboring forests.
+
+"Hurrah! they're bolting," said Mont.
+
+"But they've collared what was left of our bread, and the remains of the
+roast pork," said the hired boy angrily. "Oh, the varmints! I'll just
+give them something."
+
+He advanced to fire better.
+
+An aged chief, however, turned at this moment and discharged a parting
+shot which took effect in the calf of Stump's leg.
+
+"Oh, dear! I'm hit," he cried. "A great wooden skewer's stuck right in
+my leg, sir. Perhaps it's poisoned, sir. Oh, dear, but I wish it hadn't
+been me. There's the professor, now; he could have borne it better than
+me."
+
+"Thank you, my young friend," said the professor, "the calf of my leg is
+as susceptible to pain as yours; let us get away, as arrowheads are
+sharp, and in certain parts of the body mortal."
+
+"Where shall we go?" asked Mont.
+
+"We are not safe here. The savages will return in larger numbers
+directly, and we shall probably lose our lives, so I propose to seek our
+boat."
+
+"And go back to the _Searcher_?" asked Carl.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Never! I for one will not go!" cried Carl.
+
+"And I can't crawl. I'm as lame as a dog," said Stump, half crying.
+
+"Roll, if you can't walk," said the professor jokingly.
+
+"Pull it out, sir. Give me a hand with it. It hurts awful."
+
+Mont advanced to the boy and seized the arrowhead, which he tugged at
+until, with a torrent of blood, it came out of the wound.
+
+It was with difficulty Stump managed to limp on one leg, and seemed very
+grateful when Mont bound up the wound and told him to lean on his
+shoulder.
+
+"My dear boy," said the professor, "discretion is the better part of
+valor. I am averse to the taking of human life, for I am a man of
+science and not a fighter. My advice is to check the advance of those
+bloodthirsty savages, and when your ammunition is spent, to run. As I am
+old, and not quick of foot, I will start at once."
+
+So saying, he ran with all speed to the boat.
+
+"Coward!" said Mont angrily.
+
+"What are we to do?" asked Carl blankly.
+
+"Follow him, I suppose," replied Mont. "Bring up the rear, Carl, while I
+help Stump along, and if the beasts show again, call us, and we will
+turn and fire."
+
+They began to beat a retreat in this order, and, fortunately, the
+natives did not again make an appearance.
+
+The half-mile was traversed quickly, Stump groaning dreadfully as he was
+forced along.
+
+When within a few paces of the boat awful yells were heard behind them.
+
+Turning to see from whence they proceeded, Mont saw a horde of savages
+in pursuit. The sands seemed to be alive with them.
+
+Evidently the defeated party had returned to obtain re-enforcements and
+apprise their companions of the slaughter which had taken place, urging
+them to avenge it.
+
+An army of at least three hundred wild-looking fiends were at their
+heels, and not a moment was to be lost.
+
+"Quick, for Heaven's sake!" said Professor Woddle. "The savages are upon
+us. Quick, boys, or we are lost!"
+
+The boys sprang into the boat, placing Stump in the bows, and pushed
+off.
+
+Carl and Mont plied the oars vigorously.
+
+Fortunately, when the savages reached the beach they were some distance
+out.
+
+A flight of arrows fell close to them without doing them any harm.
+
+At least a hundred of the natives plunged into the sea up to the waist,
+but they did not attempt to swim after the boat, which soon reached the
+_Searcher_.
+
+Mont expected to see someone, but the platform was deserted.
+
+Our hero at once went to the captain, being alarmed at the hostile
+attitude of the savages, whom he did not doubt were possessed of canoes
+and would make an attack upon the ship.
+
+He was annoyed at being obliged to take shelter so soon, but what could
+he do?
+
+All his hopes of liberty in flight were nipped in the bud.
+
+He began to see now that Captain Vindex knew the character of the coast,
+and had calculated well on their return to their captivity.
+
+Imprisonment with him was better than death or slavery among the savages
+of the island.
+
+The captain was sitting in front of the organ playing an exquisite air
+of Beethoven.
+
+Full of excitement, Mont had no time to listen.
+
+He touched him on the shoulder.
+
+The Wizard of the Sea seemed unconscious of his presence.
+
+"Captain," said our hero.
+
+The strange being shivered and turned round.
+
+"Ah," he cried, "'tis you, Mr. Folsom. Have you had good sport? You have
+returned sooner than I expected."
+
+"The sport was not bad," replied Mont, "but unfortunately we met with a
+troop of savages, who spoilt our fun."
+
+The captain smiled ironically.
+
+"Savages!" he repeated. "Were you surprised at meeting with them? Have
+you so little geographical knowledge that you do not know they swarm
+hereabouts?"
+
+"All I know is," replied Mont, "that if you don't want them on board the
+boat, you had better look out."
+
+"My dear fellow," said the captain, "I am not likely to trouble my head
+about such wretches."
+
+"But there are lots of them."
+
+"How many?"
+
+"Over three hundred, I should think, as well as I could count."
+
+"We have nothing to fear from them, nothing at all," said the captain.
+"Don't be alarmed."
+
+Without another word he turned again to the organ, and played a Scotch
+air which had an indescribable charm about it.
+
+He was plunged again in a reverie that Mont did not think it prudent to
+interrupt.
+
+He remounted to the platform without seeing a single negro.
+
+The most absolute want of precaution reigned on board the _Searcher_,
+and it looked as if no one knew that hundreds of howling savages were
+within five minutes' row of them.
+
+In the growing darkness, which came on while Mont was alone, he could
+see the forms of the natives running backward and forward on the beach.
+
+They were evidently planning an attack upon a large scale.
+
+What could account for the captain's strange apathy?
+
+After a time he forgot the natives in admiring the lovely night of the
+tropics.
+
+The zodiacal stars appeared, and the moon shone brightly amidst
+innumerable constellations of the zenith.
+
+He wished that the moon would light the _Searcher_ to the coral bed, and
+that they would sink to the bottom, where they would be safe from their
+enemies.
+
+Proceeding below again he sought his friends.
+
+The door giving access to the interior of the boat remained open, and he
+observed a slave standing at the bottom of the staircase as if on watch.
+
+Stump had his leg plastered up, and, though in pain, was much better.
+
+Strange to say, all were pleased to return to the boat, and to escape a
+fearful death of lifelong slavery among the savages, who are known to
+travelers as the Papouans.
+
+Mont slept badly, for he anticipated a night attack.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+ELECTRIFYING THE SAVAGES.
+
+
+"What a sight! They are going to attack us, sure!"
+
+It was Mont who spoke, as at six o'clock in the morning he ascended to
+the platform.
+
+The morning mist had lifted, and he could see the land distinctly.
+
+The savages were very busy, and more numerous than they had been the
+night before.
+
+As well as he could calculate, he counted six or seven hundred of them.
+
+They were tall, handsome men, with an erect bearing, their features well
+chiseled.
+
+In their ears they wore rings of bone.
+
+Their arms were bows and arrows, spears, and shields made of the skins
+of fish stretched over a wooden frame or the back of the turtle.
+
+A chief rowed in a canoe toward the _Searcher_, keeping at a safe
+distance.
+
+He was adorned with a fantastic headdress of feathers and leaves, and
+seemed to be the king of the country.
+
+Having nothing better to do, Mont got a fishing line from the negro who
+usually attended upon him, and amused himself with catching some of the
+fish that swam round the ship.
+
+No one made any preparation to repel an attack of the Papouans, which
+alarmed Mont very much.
+
+He had, however, so much confidence in the sagacity of Captain Vindex
+that he believed he would not be caught asleep.
+
+For two hours he continued his sport with tolerable success, and was so
+wrapped up in it that he forgot the natives for the time.
+
+While he was engaged in pulling up a good bite, an arrow whizzed past
+him.
+
+Mont dropped his fish, and very nearly his line.
+
+"Bother the brutes!" he exclaimed; "can't they let a fellow fish in
+peace? Why doesn't the captain make a start and get away from them?"
+
+He was as eager now to leave the land as he had been the day before to
+reach it.
+
+It was clear that the Papouans were puzzled.
+
+They had seen European ships before, but what could they make of a long
+cylinder of iron, without masts, almost flush with the surface of the
+water, and no chimney like a steamer?
+
+But they gained confidence as they saw no attempt made to drive them
+away.
+
+They had seen some of their number killed by the air-guns, yet they had
+heard no noise.
+
+All at once a flotilla consisting of a score of canoes, full of savages,
+put off from the shore, and approached the ship.
+
+Mont at once sought refuge in the interior of the ship, and ran to
+apprise the captain of the formidable state affairs were assuming.
+
+Clearly no orders had been given to repel boarders.
+
+Knocking at the captain's door, he was told to enter.
+
+Captain Vindex was reading.
+
+"Do I disturb you?" asked Mont politely.
+
+"A little," replied the captain; "but I suppose you have good reason for
+seeking me?"
+
+"Rather," answered our hero. "We are surrounded by savages, and in a few
+minutes we shall have them on board."
+
+"Ah," said the captain, "they have got their canoes, I suppose?"
+
+"Heaps of them."
+
+"Then we must do something."
+
+"Shut up the shop," said Mont.
+
+"That is easily done," replied the captain, touching a bell, and adding:
+"In half a minute the trapdoor will be closed. You need not be afraid
+that they will break in."
+
+"No, but to-morrow we shall want air, and you must open the door again
+for your pumps to work."
+
+"Yes; our ship is like a great whale, and cannot live without air."
+
+"In a moment the Papouans will be on the top of us, and I don't suppose
+they will go away in a hurry," replied Mont.
+
+"You suppose they will take possession of the outside and keep it?"
+
+"Exactly."
+
+"Well, then," answered the captain calmly, "I don't see why they
+shouldn't. Why should I kill the poor creatures if I can help it? I know
+many savages in the civilized world whom I would cut off with more
+pleasure. Leave them to me. If it is necessary I will make a terrible
+example of them."
+
+"You have no cannon."
+
+"I shall not fire a shot, and I shall not wound them in any way, and yet
+they will fall like leaves in autumn. Go to your friends, and rest
+perfectly easy," said the captain.
+
+This was a dismissal, and, wondering much, Mont went away.
+
+As he sought his cabin he heard the fierce cries of the savages, who
+swarmed on the back of the iron ship like flies in summer.
+
+The night passed without any incident. Plenty of oxygen still passed
+through the ship, but it was time to renew the air, which was becoming
+impure.
+
+Breakfast was served in the morning, as usual.
+
+Eleven o'clock came, and the captain showed no signs of moving.
+
+This apathy appeared incomprehensible to Mont.
+
+Without any difficulty the vessel could have gone out to sea, risen in
+mid-ocean, and taken in fresh air.
+
+"It is very odd we don't move," he remarked.
+
+"I can't understand it," said the professor. "But everything is so
+remarkable on board this ship that I have ceased to wonder at anything."
+
+"I've had a taste of niggers, and don't want another," said Stump, who
+was lying on a mattress with his leg bound up.
+
+"Hark at the reptiles! What a thundering row they're kicking up!"
+remarked Mont.
+
+"I never heard such a racket," answered Carl; "our skipper must be out
+of his head not to start the vipers."
+
+The captain appeared in the doorway.
+
+There was a pleasant smile on his face, and he did not seem at all
+alarmed at the menacing aspect of affairs.
+
+"Gentlemen," he said, "we resume our voyage at twelve o'clock exactly."
+
+"It is now a quarter to," said the professor, regarding his chronometer.
+
+"Precisely. I shall open the flap, and take in air directly."
+
+"And the niggers?" said Mont.
+
+"The Papouans?" replied the captain, shrugging his shoulders.
+
+"Won't they get in?"
+
+"How?"
+
+"Easily enough, by walking down the ladder. They can do that when the
+flap is up, and can kill us all without any trouble."
+
+"Gentlemen," said Captain Vindex, "the Papouans will not descend the
+staircase, although the flap is open."
+
+They regarded this singular man in amazement.
+
+"You do not understand me," he continued. "Come to the bottom of the
+ladder, and you shall see."
+
+"Shall we take our guns?" asked the professor.
+
+"Not the slightest necessity."
+
+"At least your slaves are armed?"
+
+"They are all at their work; follow me," said the captain.
+
+They obeyed his order, and walked to the foot of the metal ladder.
+
+The captain folded his arms, and stood by the side of the professor.
+
+Mont and Carl were together.
+
+Even Stump had crawled along the passage to see what would happen.
+
+Captain Vindex made a sign to a slave, who, touching a spring, caused a
+trapdoor in the back of the _Searcher_ to fly open.
+
+The sunshine descended in a flood.
+
+Terrible cries of rage and triumph were heard, and a swarm of natives
+appeared on all sides.
+
+At least twenty made a rush at the ladder, brandishing their tomahawks
+and spears, while they uttered fierce yells and scraps of war songs.
+
+The first who grasped the railing, and placed his foot on the ladder,
+gave a bound back, and the most fearful shrieks burst from his quivering
+lips. A second, a third, and a fourth did the same.
+
+What invisible force was at work Mont did not know. He thought the days
+of magic and sorcery had returned.
+
+A score of Papouans tried to descend; but they had no sooner made the
+attempt than they instantly retreated, yelling dismally, and threw
+themselves into the sea.
+
+"Stunning," said Mont. "It's fine, but I don't know how you do it."
+
+The captain smiled.
+
+To get a better view, Mont put one foot on the staircase and one hand on
+the railing.
+
+He immediately withdrew them, uttering a cry which was loud enough to
+wake the dead.
+
+"Oh, oh!" he cried.
+
+"What's up?" exclaimed Carl, who could not help laughing.
+
+"I see the dodge now," said Mont; "it's an electric battery applied to
+the metal of the staircase, and whoever touches it has a shock. I've had
+it before at Coney Island, and at fairs. You pay a dime and get
+electrified."
+
+"Ah!" ejaculated the professor, upon whom a light began to dawn.
+
+"You are right," said the captain calmly. "I have connected the brass
+staircase with the powerful storage battery that gives us light and
+power, and the ignorant savages are frightened at they know not what. If
+they had persisted in their attempt to enter the ship I should have
+applied all my electrical force, and they would have fallen as dead as
+flies on a fly paper; but I did not wish to harm them. They are enemies
+unworthy of my hatred."
+
+The news of the dreadful and mysterious pains which they felt were
+spread by the shocked natives to their friends.
+
+Alarmed and horrified, they beat a precipitate retreat, swimming and
+rowing back to the shore.
+
+In half an hour the beach was deserted, and all flew away from the sea
+fiend whose nature they could not understand.
+
+"They take us for the Old Nick," said Mont.
+
+"Twelve o'clock," exclaimed the captain, who was always as punctual as
+fate; "I said we should sail at twelve."
+
+At this moment the engines began to revolve, and the _Searcher_ skimmed
+over the surface of the sea like a bird.
+
+The air was soon taken into the reservoirs, the flap or panel was
+closed, and sinking into the bosom of the waves, she glided along, moved
+by her powerful screw, like a big fish; only the helmsman, sitting in
+his solitary place of lookout, being responsible for her management.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+A PEARL WORTH A FORTUNE.
+
+
+They traversed the ocean at a depth of about a hundred yards from the
+surface.
+
+The health of the captives continued good.
+
+Stump was the only grumbler; the others read and talked, resigning
+themselves to their fate, and waiting the next adventure which should
+befall them in their singular voyage.
+
+"I tell you what it is, sir," exclaimed Stump one day; "I wish I could
+get my fist near that there captain. If I wouldn't give him a knockout
+I'd let a whale come and eat me."
+
+"What have you to grumble at, my friend?" inquired Professor Woddle.
+"You are comfortably housed, well fed, and have a constant source of
+excitement in the movements of this remarkable ship."
+
+"Bother the ship. Why didn't she strike on a rock and bust up?" said
+Stump. "I'd rather be back to Nautical Hall any day than here."
+
+"Bide your time, my lad," continued the professor; "something will
+happen some day."
+
+"Very prob'ble, sir, but it's waiting for it to turn up as I don't like.
+Just shove me alongside of that blessed captain, and if I don't give
+him----"
+
+"Stump," interrupted Mont, "you shut up. I wouldn't mind being back to
+the Hall myself, but finding fault won't take us there."
+
+"Certainly, sir. I don't have much chance of talking. I shall forget my
+own language soon; but no matter, I am only a hired boy, I know, and, of
+course, shouldn't have no feelings."
+
+Mont took the trouble to pacify him, explaining that to provoke a
+quarrel with the captain would not in any way improve their position.
+
+On the contrary, it might deprive them of the little liberty and
+comforts they now enjoyed, and make their miserable condition much
+worse.
+
+Stump saw this and promised to be quiet.
+
+He was a strong lad for his age, as hard as iron, and brave as a young
+lion.
+
+"Just promise me this, sir," he said.
+
+"What?"
+
+"If I see a good chance of stepping it, you'll be with me?"
+
+"Like a shot. But we mustn't do anything rash, you know, Stump," replied
+Mont. "Captain Vindex is not to be trifled with. A man who can build a
+ship like this, make electricity take the place of steam, and so store
+the air as to make it sufficient for use for twenty-four hours, is one
+of those great spirits who think of everything, and with whom we cannot
+hope to cope on equal terms."
+
+"Don't know so much about that, sir," said Stump. "I once had a round
+with a professional boxer and laid him low in two minutes."
+
+Mont laughed, and the conversation dropped.
+
+The voyage continued to the Indian Sea, and was not remarkable for
+anything more exciting than the capture of several turtles in nets, and
+the shooting of various sea birds, which supplied an agreeable addition
+to the comforts of the table.
+
+In the Indian Sea they encountered hundreds of the nautilus tribe
+floating gracefully on the surface of the water, their tiny sails
+spread, catching the wind, and looking like little ships.
+
+One day Captain Vindex entered.
+
+"Would you like to see the banks upon which grow the oysters which
+contain the pearls?" asked the captain.
+
+"Under the sea?" said Mont.
+
+"An excursion, submarine?" said the professor.
+
+"Precisely so. Are you inclined to go?"
+
+"Very much, indeed," replied all in chorus, with the exception of Stump.
+
+"This is not the time of year for the pearl divers to be at work," said
+the captain, "though we may see one or two. I will bring the ship nearer
+land, and show you some of the treasures of the deep. They fish for
+pearls in the Gulf of Bengal, in the Indian seas, as well as those of
+China and Japan, off the coast of South America, and in the Gulf of
+Panama and that of California, but it is at Ceylon that they find the
+richest harvest."
+
+"That is a fact," said the professor; "the richest pearls, as you say,
+are found here."
+
+"Right," said the captain. "We, however, shall see more than any diver
+ever dreams of. Perhaps I shall find my pearl worth a million, for which
+I have searched so long. I shall be at your service, gentlemen, in a few
+hours."
+
+When the captain had departed the professor was very grave.
+
+Carl and Mont were delighted at the prospect of finding pearls, but
+Stump bit his nails in silence.
+
+"I'll take home a pearl or two for luck!" exclaimed Mont.
+
+"If you ever get home, sir," remarked Stump, half aloud.
+
+"You'll go with us, won't you?" asked Mont.
+
+"I'll go wherever you and Master Carl go, Master Mont," replied Stump,
+"because it's my duty to watch over you. But I aint going to have no
+sort of friendship with that captain, not by a jugful!"
+
+"He's all right, when you know him."
+
+"Is he? Then I don't want to know him."
+
+Turning to the professor, Mont exclaimed:
+
+"Shall we have good sport, sir?"
+
+"Most likely," answered Mr. Woddle.
+
+"Are there many sharks about?"
+
+"It is no use disguising the fact. The sea hereabouts swarms with them.
+I should not like to meet one under the waves. A pearl has been called
+by poets a tear of the sea, and anything more lovely around a maiden's
+neck cannot be conceived. I have a strong wish to hunt for those tears
+of the sea, and behold them growing in their shells, but Heaven protect
+us from the sharks."
+
+Stump disappeared for a brief space, and returned with a long harpoon.
+
+"What have you got there?" asked Mont.
+
+"It's a reg'lar pig-sticker, isn't it, sir?" remarked Stump, regarding
+it admiringly.
+
+"It does look as if it could give an ugly prod," remarked Carl.
+
+"They call it a harpoon; thing for sticking whales. Me and Number One,
+that's the nigger as waits on us, is friends, sir, and he's given me
+this to fight the darned sharkses with."
+
+"Bravo, Stump!" exclaimed Carl.
+
+"It would be 'Bravo Stump,' if I could rip up an inch or two of that
+captain, and seize the blessed ship!" rejoined the boy with a scowl.
+
+Mont said nothing in reply, but waited patiently for the signal which
+would summon him and his companions to the captain's side.
+
+It came an hour or two before daybreak.
+
+A negro summoned them to the platform, near which the boat attached to
+the ship was riding.
+
+It was manned by four men, and when all the party were on board the
+negroes began to row toward the island.
+
+At six o'clock the day broke. They were a few miles from the land, which
+was distinctly visible, with a few trees scattered here and there.
+
+The captain stood up in the boat, and narrowly regarded the sea. At last
+he gave a sign, and the anchor was lowered.
+
+"Here we are," said the captain. "Put on your divers' caps, gentlemen,
+and follow me."
+
+The heavy sea garments were quickly put on.
+
+The electric lamps were not needed, because the depth was not great.
+
+Besides, the electric light would attract the sharks, who were creatures
+they could not afford to despise.
+
+The only arm given to each of the party was a long, sharp knife.
+
+Captain Vindex set the example of springing into the sea, the others
+following him as soon as they were thoroughly equipped.
+
+The negroes remained in the boat awaiting their return.
+
+A depth of about three yards and a half did not give them a very great
+submersion.
+
+To be supplied with condensed air, to be armed, and well lighted up by
+the sun was delightful. They walked along the bottom of the sea, easily
+seeing the smallest object on all sides of them.
+
+After some little walking they came to several oyster banks, from which
+the shells containing the valuable pearls were dragged by the hands of
+the divers.
+
+There were millions of them, and the mine seemed inexhaustible.
+
+They could not stop to examine everything, for it was necessary to
+follow the captain everywhere.
+
+The road was uneven; sometimes Mont could raise his arm and put his hand
+out of the water; at others, he was descending a slope, and the sun's
+rays were not so vivid.
+
+Everything became more obscure, and great shells were seen sticking to
+curiously shaped rocks.
+
+After a time a large grotto appeared before them, dimly lighted.
+
+The captain entered, followed by the rest of the party, the professor
+eagerly taking note of everything.
+
+Stump carried his harpoon, which was a good deal longer than himself;
+and the two boys eagerly looked for pearls, as if they expected to find
+them lying at their feet.
+
+Descending an inclined plane, Captain Vindex stopped and pointed out an
+object which they had not hitherto perceived.
+
+It was an oyster of gigantic size.
+
+Lying alone upon the granite rock, it took up a large space, and never
+had the professor even heard of such a huge bivalve.
+
+The shells were open a little, as if the oyster was feeding, which
+enabled the captain to introduce his knife.
+
+Keeping the two shells open by both ends of his knife, he pushed back
+the flesh of the oyster and revealed a pearl as big as a small cocoanut.
+
+It was a pearl worth at least a hundred thousand dollars.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+THE MAN OF MYSTERY.
+
+
+Mont advanced to the oyster, and stretched out his hand as if he would
+have seized the pearl, but he was disappointed.
+
+By a sudden movement the captain withdrew his knife, and the two shells
+came together with a sharp snap.
+
+Satisfied with showing them this treasure of the deep, he turned round,
+and retraced his steps, leaving the precious pearl behind them.
+
+Incomprehensible man, he was now more than ever a mystery to our hero.
+
+He allowed them to seek and take numerous other pearls, but would not
+let them touch that he had shown them.
+
+Again they wandered along the bottom of the sea, beholding many things
+worthy of observation.
+
+Sometimes the bank was so shallow that their heads came above the water;
+at others they sank several yards below.
+
+Suddenly the captain stopped, and by a movement of his hand ordered the
+party to conceal themselves behind a projecting rock.
+
+He pointed to the liquid mass in front of them, and all followed with
+their eyes the direction indicated.
+
+About five yards off a shadow came between the party and the rays of the
+sun.
+
+Mont thought of the "sea butcher," as the divers of Ceylon call the
+shark, and trembled a little at the idea.
+
+But he deceived himself, for this time he had nothing to fear from the
+monster of the ocean.
+
+A living man, an Indian, as black as ink, shot through the water,
+doubtless an early fisher for pearls.
+
+The bottom of his canoe could be seen up above, a few feet beyond his
+head.
+
+Arriving at the bottom, which was about five yards deep, he fell on his
+knees, let go the stone he had held between his feet to sink with more
+rapidity, and began to rake up the oysters from the bank with both
+hands.
+
+A cord was around his waist, the other end being attached to his boat,
+and this he pulled at when he wanted to rise.
+
+To his loins was attached a little bag, into which he put the oysters as
+fast as he could gather them.
+
+The Indian did not see anyone, and if he had he would have been so
+alarmed at the strange spectacle of curious-looking beings walking at
+ease at the bottom of the sea that he would quickly have retired.
+
+Several times he remounted and plunged again, not getting more than a
+dozen oysters at each dip.
+
+It appeared as if he risked his life for very little return, as in a
+score of oysters he might not find a pearl worth having.
+
+All at once, while on his knees, he made a gesture of terror, and seized
+his rope to ascend to the surface.
+
+A gigantic mass appeared close to the wretched diver.
+
+It was a huge shark, which advanced diagonally toward him, his terrible
+jaws open wide.
+
+The Indian threw himself on one side and avoided the bite of the shark,
+but not the action of his tail.
+
+Mont thought he heard the jaws snap, but he had not much time to think,
+as he saw the diver thrown down by a blow of the animal's tail and
+stretched upon the ground.
+
+All this was done in a few seconds, and then the shark returned, lying
+upon his back, in order the better to bite and divide the Indian in
+halves.
+
+Mont was about to rush forward to attempt to save the miserable wretch's
+life, when he was pushed rudely back by Captain Vindex.
+
+In his hand he held a knife, and was evidently prepared to battle for
+his life against the shark.
+
+The latter, just about to seize the Indian and snap him up, perceived
+his new adversary and, replacing himself upon his belly, directed
+himself rapidly toward him.
+
+He waited coolly the attack of the shark, which was one of the largest
+of its species, and when it charged him, he stepped quickly aside and
+plunged his knife into its belly up to the hilt.
+
+Then commenced a fearful combat.
+
+The shark began to bleed dreadfully, tinging the sea in such a manner as
+to hide the two in a sea of blood.
+
+As the water cleared a little, Mont saw the captain, caught by one of
+the creature's fins, stabbing at it as fast as he could, but not being
+able to give it a deathblow. The shark lashed the sea with fury, and
+almost prevented the professor and his friends from keeping their
+footing, though they were some distance off.
+
+Neither the professor, Mont, nor Carl dared to go to the help of the
+captain, for it seemed as if the shark would bite them in two, and they
+lost their presence of mind for a time.
+
+But Mont soon recovered, and then, catching Stump's harpoon, he darted
+forward to do his best.
+
+With his teeth set, he precipitated himself toward the shark, and struck
+it a terrible blow in the flank.
+
+Again the sea was saturated with blood.
+
+The shark agitated the water with indescribable fury, for our hero had
+not missed his aim.
+
+It was the death agony of the monster.
+
+Stricken to the heart, he struggled gallantly, but was powerless for
+further evil.
+
+As the immense creature was dying, Mont pulled the captain from under
+him, and at the same moment the Indian, coming to himself, detached the
+stone from his feet and shot upward.
+
+Following the example of the pearl diver, the captain struck the ground
+with his heels, as did the others, and all were soon at the surface.
+
+The Indian had regained his canoe, but he was lying at the bottom in a
+half-fainting condition.
+
+Satisfying himself that the poor fellow would live, and was not
+seriously injured, the captain signaled to his companions to descend,
+leaving the Indian gazing at them with haggard eyes, thinking he had
+seen some supernatural beings.
+
+Walking as fast as they could along the bottom of the sea, they came in
+time to the anchor of their boat, reascended to the surface, and, taking
+their seats, removed their head-cases with a feeling of relief.
+
+The negroes immediately began to row back to the _Searcher_.
+
+Captain Vindex was the first to speak.
+
+"Thank you, my lad," he said, extending his hand to Mont.
+
+"It's nothing," rejoined our hero bluntly; "you saved my life when we
+were wrecked, and I have now saved yours with my harpoon. We are equal
+now, and I owe you nothing."
+
+A sickly smile sat on the captain's lips for a second, and that was all.
+
+"Lay to it!" he cried to his men. "Pull to the _Searcher_."
+
+At half-past eight in the morning they were again on board of the ship,
+having been absent a little more than three hours.
+
+To Mont the captain was more difficult to understand than ever.
+
+He had risked his own life to save that of a poor Indian whom he had
+never seen before, and was never likely to see again.
+
+This showed that he could not have a bad heart.
+
+His heart was not entirely dead, whatever his faults might be.
+
+As if the captain guessed Mont's thoughts, he observed to him at the
+bottom of the staircase on board the ship:
+
+"That Indian belonged to an oppressed race. I also am one of the
+oppressed, and to my last breath I shall continue to be so. You
+recognize now the bond of union between us?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+THROUGH THE EARTH.
+
+
+The ship again continued her way, traveling toward the Persian Gulf.
+
+If Captain Vindex wanted to visit Europe, it was clear that he would
+have to go around the Cape of Good Hope, but that did not appear to be
+his design.
+
+He went direct to the Red Sea, and, as the Isthmus of Suez was not then
+pierced by a canal, there was no outlet to the Mediterranean.
+
+This puzzled the professor very much.
+
+One morning the captain sought his prisoners, and said to the professor:
+
+"To-morrow we shall be in the Mediterranean."
+
+Mr. Woddle looked at him with astonishment.
+
+"Does that surprise you?" he continued, with a smile.
+
+"Certainly it does, though I thought I had given up being astonished
+since I have been on board your ship."
+
+"You are a man of science; why should you be astonished?"
+
+"Because you must travel with the speed of lightning almost to East
+Africa and round the Cape of Good Hope."
+
+"I did not say I was going to do so," replied the captain.
+
+"You can't go overland, since there is no canal through the Isthmus of
+Suez----"
+
+"But one can go under land," interrupted the captain.
+
+"Under land," answered the professor, holding up his hand.
+
+"Undoubtedly," said Captain Vindex calmly. "For a long while nature has
+made underneath this tongue of land what men are trying to do now on the
+surface."
+
+"Does there exist a passage?"
+
+"Yes, a passage or tunnel, which at fifty feet depth touches a solid
+rock."
+
+"How did you discover it--by chance?"
+
+"No," said the captain. "I guessed that such a tunnel existed, and I
+have been through it several times."
+
+"Well," said the professor, "we live to learn. Our fathers never dreamed
+of gas, of railways, of telegraphs, and I did not suspect the existence
+of your wonderful ship."
+
+"Shortly, my dear sir," said the captain, "your children--that is to
+say, the next generation--will travel through the air in flying
+machines; your railway engines will own electricity as their motive
+power. There is no end to scientific discovery; the world is in its
+infancy. We are just emerging from barbarism. Wait and watch, that's my
+motto. You must not be surprised at anything in these days."
+
+"You are right--we are on the march," said the professor.
+
+The day passed, and at half-past nine the _Searcher_ rose to the surface
+to receive her supply of air.
+
+Nothing disturbed the silence but the cry of the pelican and other birds
+of the night, with the occasional sound of the escaping steam of a
+steamer traveling toward the Far East.
+
+Mont could not rest below, and at once ascended to the platform to
+breath the fresh air. In the darkness he saw a pale light, discolored by
+the fog, which burned about a mile off.
+
+"A lighthouse," he said.
+
+The captain was by his side, and quietly replied:
+
+"It is the floating lightship of Suez."
+
+"We are near the mouth of the tunnel, I suppose? Is the entrance easy?"
+
+"No," said Captain Vindex, "it is difficult. I always steer the ship
+myself, and if you like to come into the wheelhouse with me I will show
+you the way. In a moment the _Searcher_ will sink, and we shall not rise
+till we are in the Mediterranean."
+
+Mont followed the captain into the pilot's cabin, which was at the bow
+of the vessel, the wheel working the rudder by long chains carried aft.
+
+The cabin measured six feet square, four round windows of thick
+plate-glass enabled the helmsman to see on all sides, and the electric
+light, thrown well forward, made everything as clear as day.
+
+A strong negro, with an eye like a hawk, was at the wheel, but he gave
+the spokes to the captain and fell back.
+
+"Now," exclaimed the Wizard of the Sea, "let us search for our passage."
+
+Electric wires communicated with the engine room, so it was easy to
+communicate directly with the engineers by pressing a knob of metal.
+
+Touching this knob, the speed of the screw lessened considerably.
+
+For about an hour the ship passed by a bank of sand, which was varied by
+rocks, on which Mont saw all kinds of sea weeds, coral formations, and
+curious fish agitating their fins in alarm at the apparition of the
+_Searcher_.
+
+At half-past ten a long and large gallery appeared in front, black and
+apparently deep.
+
+The ship entered this gloomy tunnel boldly, and an unaccustomed rushing
+sound made itself heard against the sides, which arose from the waters
+of the Red Sea rushing into the Mediterranean.
+
+Following the current with the speed of an arrow, the ship made its way,
+though the engines were reversed and the screw went backward to abate
+the velocity of its progress.
+
+A single false turn of the wheel, and the _Searcher_ would have been
+dashed to atoms against the ironlike rocks on each side, above, and
+below.
+
+Mont held his breath.
+
+He could see nothing but the foaming waters, made transparent by the
+electric light.
+
+Half an hour later the captain gave up the helm to the negro, and,
+turning to our hero, exclaimed:
+
+"We are in the Mediterranean."
+
+In less than half an hour the ship, carried by the current, had
+traversed the Isthmus of Suez.
+
+The next morning they came to the surface, and were able to breathe the
+fresh air again.
+
+Stump was in high spirits when he found that they were near civilization
+again, because he thought they had a chance of escaping, and this idea
+was always uppermost in his mind.
+
+He spoke to his companions about it, and they all agreed to follow him
+if a good opportunity offered.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+THE ESCAPE--CONCLUSION.
+
+
+The ship traveled leisurely along the Mediterranean, often rising in
+sight of land and lying like a log upon the water.
+
+In the evening it was the custom of the prisoners to play at checkers,
+dominoes, or some game they liked; and after the fourth day in the
+Mediterranean, Stump, instead of putting the games on the table, shut
+the door, and, in a mysterious way, exclaimed:
+
+"I've squared the nigger!"
+
+"Which?" asked Mont.
+
+"Number One. He as waits upon us. His real name's Smunko. I've found
+that out. Me and he's firm friends. I've told him I want to bolt, and he
+says he shan't let on to the skipper, or any of them, though they are
+all a lot of spies."
+
+"Perhaps he's one, too," observed the professor, smiling.
+
+"Not he, sir," answered the boy; "Smunko's right enough. He's going to
+keep all the other chaps quiet, some dark night, when we are near the
+land. Then we are to go on the platform and swim for our lives."
+
+"A very good arrangement, if it can be carried out," remarked the
+professor. "But I fear your friend Smunko is not to be depended upon."
+
+Stump was indignant.
+
+"The fact is," went on the professor, "I don't want to discourage the
+lad, but I have no wish that he should do anything rash, and involve us
+in a mess. The captain might doom us to solitary confinement. At present
+we are treated liberally, if we are prisoners."
+
+"All right, sir," replied Stump, "I'll turn it up as far as you are
+concerned. If Master Mont likes to come with me, all well and good; if
+not he can let it alone. I know my game, and I mean to stick to it."
+
+"Don't show your nasty temper, Stump," said our hero.
+
+"Aint being cooped up here like a turkey in a pen, fatting for
+Christmas, enough to rile a bishop?" asked the boy. "But I shan't say
+no more. When all's ready I'll give you one more chance, and if you aint
+with me, I'm off alone."
+
+It was impossible to check Stump's will. The only one who had any
+influence over him was Mont.
+
+He was a boy rudely brought up, unaccustomed to control his passions,
+and having a decided character, but to our hero he was deeply attached.
+
+The next day the ship floated near an island, which the professor
+declared to be the Isle of Cyprus.
+
+In the evening Stump whispered to Mont:
+
+"Now, sir, all's ready. Smunko's piping off the other blacks; we're not
+a quarter of a mile from the land."
+
+Mont's heart beat high.
+
+"Tell the others," he said.
+
+"No; let you and I go together."
+
+"I can't leave Carl, and the professor is one of us."
+
+In this Mont was firm.
+
+He would not leave the _Searcher_ without Carl and the professor.
+
+So the two were told that all was ready.
+
+"Come on, now," said Mont. "We must not lose our chance."
+
+With the valuable pearls they had secured in the Indian Ocean in their
+pockets, the others followed Mont to the deck.
+
+All hearts beat loudly.
+
+"There is a boat!" whispered Carl. "Come on."
+
+He dropped into the sea, and the others did the same.
+
+Not far away floated a log, and to this they clung.
+
+They paddled with their hands, and were soon some distance away from the
+submarine monster.
+
+Then they cried for help.
+
+The boat they had seen came in their direction.
+
+They were seen, and the natives from the island let out a shout.
+
+Then suddenly Captain Vindex appeared on the deck of the _Searcher_.
+
+He shook his fist at the party.
+
+Stump laughed at him; the others waved him off.
+
+"She is going down!" cried Mont. "Quick, pull for the shore, before you
+are wrecked!"
+
+The natives did not like the looks of the strange submarine ship, and
+they pulled with all strength.
+
+By the agitation in the water the party knew the _Searcher_ was after
+them.
+
+But the shore was gained, and they were safe.
+
+Then came a fearful shock.
+
+In his eagerness to catch them Captain Vindex had allowed the _Searcher_
+to run into the rocks.
+
+The submarine craft shot out of the water, and then----
+
+Bang! Boom! Crash!
+
+It was as if heaven and earth were splitting in twain.
+
+The whole island shook, and all in the boat fell flat.
+
+The _Searcher_ had been blown to atoms.
+
+The air was filled with flying bits of iron and steel.
+
+Of course all on board were instantly killed.
+
+It was a long while before Mont and his companions recovered.
+
+"Out of it at last, thank Heaven!" murmured Professor Woddle, and all
+said "Amen."
+
+A month later the little party returned to the United States.
+
+Mont's widowed mother was overjoyed to see him alive, and Carl's parents
+were equally elated, and so were the many friends at Nautical Hall.
+
+The pearls were equally divided, and to-day all of the party are rich
+men.
+
+"But I wouldn't take another such trip," says Mont. "No, not to pick up
+all the hidden treasures of the ocean. After this I'm going to remain at
+Nautical Hall and take the balance of my sea training on land. I've had
+all I want of such submarine ships as the _Searcher_, and such
+mysterious men as was the Wizard of the Sea."
+
+
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Notes:
+
+   Obvious punctuation errors repaired.
+
+   Page 34, "slooop" changed to "sloop". (hire a sloop)
+
+   Page 101, "life" changed to "lives". (lives of the)
+
+   Page 103, "breath" changed to "breathe". (breathe the fresh)
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WIZARD OF THE SEA***
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