was as substantial as any solid ground.

Now the great discovery was probably shut out forever from the world,
but Clewe was well satisfied. He would never make another shaft, and it
was not to be expected that men would plan and successfully construct
one which would reach down to the transparent nucleus of the earth. The
terrible fate, whatever it was, which had overtaken Rovinski, should
not, if Clewe could help it, overtake any other human being.

"But my great discovery," said he to Margaret, "that remains as
wonderful as the sun, and as safe to look upon; for with my Artesian ray
I can bore down to the solid centre of the earth, and into it, and any
man can study it with no more danger than if he sat in his armchair
at home; and if they doubt what I say about the material of which that
solid centre is composed, we can show them the fragments of it which I
brought up with me."

CHAPTER XXV. LAURELS

Nothing but a perusal of the newspapers, magazines, and scientific
journals of the day could give any idea of the enthusiastic interest
which was shown all over the civilized world in Roland Clewe's account
of the discovery of the north pole. His paper on the subject, which was
the first intimation the public had of the great news, was telegraphed
to every part of the world and translated into nearly every written
language. Sardis became a Mecca for explorers and scientific people at
home and abroad, and honors of every kind were showered by geographical
and other learned societies upon Clewe and the brave company who had
voyaged under the ice.

Each member of the party who had sailed on the Dipsey became a hero and
spent most of those days in according receptions to reporters, scholars,
travellers, sportsmen, and as many of the general public as could be
accommodated.

Sarah Block received her numerous visitors in the parlor of the house
which had been occupied by Mr. Clewe (and which he had vacated in her
favor the moment he had heard an intimation that she would like to have
it), in a beautiful gown made of the silky fibre from the pods of the
American milk-weed, then generally used in the manufacture of the finest
fabrics.

Sarah fully appreciated her position as the woman who had visited the
pole, a position not only unique at the time, but which she believed
would always remain so. In every way she endeavored to make her
appearance suitable to her new position. She wore the best clothes that
her m