which
she was accustomed.

It was some time before Captain Hubbell would consent to listen to such
a proposition as this, but when a wave, carrying on its crest a lump of
ice about the size of a flour barrel, threw its burden on the deck of
the vessel, raking it from stem to stern, the captain, who had barely
been missed by the grating missile, agreed that in a vessel with such
a low rail and of such defective naval principles, it would be better
perhaps to sail under the water than on top of it, and so he went
below, took off his pea-jacket with the silver buttons, and retired into
private life. The Dipsey then sank to a quiet depth and continued her
course under water, to the great satisfaction of everybody on board.

On a fine, frosty morning, with a strong wind blowing, although the
storm had subsided, the few inhabitants of the little settlement at Cape
Tariff saw in the distance a flag floating over the water. The Dipsey
had risen to the surface some twenty miles from the Cape and now came
bravely on, Captain Hubbell on deck, his silver buttons shining in the
sun. The sea was rough, but everybody was willing to bear with a little
discomfort in order to be able to see the point of land which was the
end of the voyage on the Dipsey, to let their eyes rest as early as
possible upon a wreath of smoke arising from the habitation of human
beings, and to catch sight of those human beings themselves.

As soon as the Dipsey arrived in the harbor, Sammy and most of the
officers went on shore to open communication with Sardis. Sarah Block
stayed on the vessel. She had been on shore when she had arrived at Cape
Tariff in the Go Lightly, and her disgust with the methods of living
in that part of the world had been freely expressed. So long as she had
perfectly comfortable quarters on board the good ship she did not wish
to visit the low huts and extremely close quarters in which dwelt the
people of the little colony. Rovinski also remained on board, but not
because he wanted to do so. A watch was kept upon him; but as the Dipsey
was anchored some distance from the landing-place, Mr. Marcy was of the
opinion that if he attempted to swim ashore it might be well to let him
do so, for if he should not be benumbed in the water into which he would
plunge he would certainly be frozen to death as soon as he reached the
shore.

The messages which came from Sardis as soon as news had been received of
the safe return of the explorers