of a healthy-minded young fellow such as Marcy;
but, moreover, the Pole had habits of sneaking about the vessel, and
afterwards retiring to quiet corners, where he would scribble in
a pocket notebook. Such conduct as this in a man whose position
corresponded with that of a common seaman on an ordinary vessel, seemed
contrary to discipline and good conduct, and he mentioned the matter to
Mr. Gibbs.

"I suppose the man is writing a letter to his wife," said the latter.
"You would not want to hinder him from doing that, would you?"

And to this no good answer could be made.

The Pole never took notes when Sammy was anywhere where he could see
him, and if Mr. Marcy had reported this conduct to the old man, it is
likely that Rovinski would speedily have been deprived of pencils and
paper, and his real character made known to the officers.

One day it was observed by those who looked out of the window in the
upper deck that the water above them was clearer than they usually
saw it, and when the electric lights in the room immediately under the
window were turned out it was almost possible to discern objects in
the room. Instantly there was a great stir on board the Dipsey, and
observations soon disclosed the fact that there was nothing above the
vessel but water and air.

At first, like an electric flash, the thought ran through the vessel
that they had reached the open sea which is supposed to surround the
pole, but reflection soon showed those who were cool enough to reflect
that if this were the case that sea must be much larger than they had
supposed, for they were still a long way from the pole. Upon one thing,
however, everybody was agreed: they must ascend without loss of time to
the surface of the water above them.

Up went the Dipsey, and it was not long before the great glass in the
upper deck admitted pure light from the outer world. Then the vessel
rose boldly and floated upon the surface of the open sea.

The hatchways were thrown open, and in a few moments nearly everybody
on board stood upon the upper deck, breathing the outer air and
gazing about them in the pure sunlight. The deck was almost flat, and
surrounded by a rail. The flooring was wet, and somewhat slippery, but
nobody thought of that; they thought of nothing but the wonderful place
in which they found themselves.

They were in a small lake surrounded by lofty and precipitous icebergs.
On every side these glittering crags rose high into the