"It was probably a mist from the ocean," interrupted the professor.
"Don"t let me hear any more of it. Washington, go below. Your watch is up and Jack will take charge. I don"t believe there will be any more ghosts."
Nor were there that night. The _Porpoise_ glided along, requiring little attention, and when morning broke was several miles nearer the southern pole.
The journey was continued beneath the waves and it was found much cooler under them than upon the surface, for the ship was in the midst of the equatorial heat.
About four o"clock in the afternoon, when all was quiet aboard, there came a sudden yell from the engine room. Washington"s voice could be heard calling for help. Then it died away in a groan.
"Something has happened!" called Jack. "Washington is in trouble."
He hurried toward where the machinery could be heard buzzing. The professor, with Andy and Mark followed. They expected to see the colored man caught in some shaft or belt, but he was nowhere in sight.
"Perhaps he has fallen into the ocean," suggested Mark.
"The engine room does not open into the sea," answered the professor.
A deep groan came from some corner of the engine room.
"There he is!" cried Jack.
But a careful search failed to reveal Washington. Still he could be heard to groan at intervals. Bill and Tom came and aided in the search, while Mrs. Johnson, who was worried at the unusual activity, asked what the trouble was.
Captain Henderson did not tell her, for, as he said afterward, he did not want any women fainting away on his ship. At his request Mrs.
Johnson went back to her cabin, and the hunt for Washington continued.
"Here he is!" cried Jack at last.
The boy had climbed up on a small ladder that led to the big storage battery tanks. He had looked down, and there, in the large metal box had spied the colored man on the bottom. Washington was unconscious and breathing heavily.
"He has been overcome by the fumes of the sulphuric acid!" exclaimed the professor. "We must get him out quickly or he will die!"
"I"ll get him!" cried Andy.
The old hunter grabbed a small step ladder that stood against the wall of the engine room. With this on his shoulder he climbed up the steps which led to the top of the storage battery tank. Then, by means of his ladder, he descended inside.
He had to work quickly as the fumes were very strong, but he managed to hoist Washington up so that Bill and Tom, from outside, could take hold of him. Then the colored man was carried out on the deck, where the fresh air and some restoratives the professor used soon revived him.
"Is I dead," were Washington"s first words, as he sat up and looked about him.
"Not this time," replied the professor. "You had a close call, though.
How did it happen?"
Washington explained that he started to clean the battery tank, when he lost his balance and fell in. He cried as he felt himself falling, but as soon as he struck the bottom of the tank the fumes of the chemicals made him unconscious. His deep breathing, which had sounded like groans, alone served to attract attention to his location.
In a little while Washington was all right save for a slight weakness.
Captain Henderson made him go to his bunk, and ordered him to remain there until morning.
During the excitement over Washington"s mishap all thought of steering the ship had been forgotten, and when Mr. Henderson went to the conning tower about five o"clock he found that the _Porpoise_ was several points off her course and was headed to the east instead of to the south. How many miles out of her way the craft had steamed could only be guessed, but as she had been going wrong for nearly an hour, it must be quite a few the inventor calculated.
However, he said, no great harm had been done. Even this slight accident would not have happened had not Bill, who was in the conning tower steering, forgotten to put the automatic device in operation when he left the wheel to join in the search for Washington.
"We"ll soon make up the lost ground," said Mr. Henderson. "Another week or ten days ought to see us at the end of our journey."
"And what will we do when we get there?" asked Jack.
"We will make some important geographical and scientific observations,"
said the professor. "Not only that, but we will have done something that no living person has ever accomplished. We reached the north pole, though we could not land on the exact spot. Let us hope we will be more successful regarding the south pole."
The professor set the ship on her course again. Bill and Tom got supper in place of Washington, while Mrs. Johnson helped set the table.
The meal was eaten, and then the inventor started the ship toward the surface, following the plan of not sailing beneath the waves after dark, in order to avoid accidents.
The craft was making good speed ahead, with the big screw revolving in the tunnel and spurting the water from the rear, when there came a sudden jar, and everyone nearly toppled over from the quick stopping of the _Porpoise_. At the same time the forward end seemed to go up in the air.
"What has happened? Are we sinking?" cried Mrs. Johnson.
"I think we are going up," spoke the professor in cool tones.
"In the air?" asked the lady.
"On the land," answered the inventor. "I think we have struck sh.o.r.e and slid up on a beach."
He ordered the engine stopped and hurried to the conning tower to make an observation. He turned on the searchlight and looked carefully at what the beams showed. Then he came back to the cabin.
"Well, what is it?" asked Mrs. Johnson.
"We have gone ash.o.r.e, just as I supposed," said Mr. Henderson.
"And whereabouts are we?"
"On the coast of South America."
"Near where?"
"Near Terra Del Fuego, the land of fire!"
CHAPTER XVII
ATTACKED BY SAVAGES
"Are we in any danger?" asked Mrs. Johnson.
"I hope not," replied the captain. "If the ship is not strained the rising tide will probably float her safely, and we can continue our trip. We will have to wait until morning to see, however."
"And if the ship is damaged?"