e
pursuit of some bonito or dolphin, watching them till they dipped down
into the smooth surface, as if to gather new strength, and then skim out
again.

The dolphins and bonito were caught, the boy growing skilful in darting
down the harpoon-like "grains," the modern form of Neptune fish-spear.

There were times too when the boy expressed his wonder that in spite of
all the time they had been sailing south, it had been such a rare thing
to meet or overtake another vessel.

"A pretty good proof," the doctor would say, "of the vastness of the
ocean."

"And of how there is plenty of room, uncle, for any number of wonderful
creatures such as we have never seen yet. But are you always going
sailing on like this?"

"Why, aren't you satisfied?" said Uncle Paul.

"Satisfied, uncle? Oh yes, with what we are doing. But I haven't had
nearly enough. I should like to go oil sailing like this for--"

"Ever?" said the doctor dryly.

"Oh no, uncle; I mean for long enough yet. But I say, isn't the world
beautiful?"

"More beautiful, boy, than words can express," replied the doctor
gravely. "But no. Now we are getting into the Southern Tropics I am
thinking of going more to the east and into the great bay, so as to get
within range of the African shores. Perhaps we shall make for the
mouths of one or two of the rivers, and get within soundings where we
can do more dredging. I anticipate some strange discoveries in those
portions of the ocean; but at present we will keep on skimming the
surface and finding what we can."

And so during the next two or three days they went sailing on, and found
something that they had least expected, to Rodd Harding's great wonder
and delight.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

THE KING'S SHIP.

It was the afternoon of a blazing hot day, when the pitch was oozing out
in drops in every exposed place, and Rodd had found it exceedingly
unpleasant to touch any piece of the brass rail, bolt, the bell, or
either of the guns, for the schooner was gliding on southward with every
scrap of her white sails spread, and the wind that wafted her onward
sent a feeling of lassitude through all on board.

Some days before, Captain Chubb had set his men to work to rig up a
small awning aft, and the doctor having declared that it was too hot for
work, he and Rodd had spent most of their time beneath this shelter,
till the latter had struck against it, declaring it was all nonsense,
for the sun came hotter