be followed her on the
surface, and the Go Lightly immediately began to move after her. This
arrangement had been made, as Clewe wished to follow the Dipsey for a
time, in order to see if everything was working properly with her. She
kept on a straight course, flashing a light into the little globe
every now and then; and finally, after meeting some floating ice, she
shattered the globe with an explosion, which was the signal agreed upon
to show that all was well, and that the Dipsey had started off alone on
the submarine voyage to the pole.

Roland Clewe gazed out over the wide stretch of dark-green waves and
glistening crests, where nothing could be seen which indicated life
except a distant, wearily-flapping sea bird, and then, turning his back
upon the pole, he made preparations for his return voyage to New York,
at which port he might expect to receive direct news from Sammy Block
and his companions.

CHAPTER V. UNDER WATER

When the Dipsey, the little submarine vessel which had started to make
its way to the north pole under the ice of the arctic regions, had sunk
out of sight under the waters, it carried a very quiet and earnestly
observant party. Every one seemed anxious to know what would happen
next, and all those whose duties would allow them to do so gathered
under the great skylight in the upper deck, and gazed upward at the
little glass bulb on the surface of the water, which they were towing by
means of an electric wire; and every time a light was flashed into this
bulb it seemed to them as if they were for an instant reunited to that
vast open world outside of the ocean. When at last the glass globe was
exploded, as a signal that the Dipsey had cut loose from all ties which
connected her with the outer world, they saw through the water above
them the flash and the sparks, and then all was darkness.

The interior of the submarine vessel was brightly lighted by electric
lamps, and the souls of the people inside of her soon began to brighten
under the influence of their work and the interest they took in their
novel undertaking; there was, however, one exception--the soul of Mrs.
Block did not brighten.

Mrs. Sarah Block was a peculiar person; she was her husband's second
wife, and was about forty years of age. Her family were country people,
farmers, and her life as a child was passed among folk as old-fashioned
as if they had lived in the past century, and had brought their
old-fashioned ide