he utmost determination and ferocity, the eels
twining themselves so powerfully about the bodies of their foes that it
was almost impossible for the latter to move hand or foot; whilst the
sharp teeth rasped strongly but ineffectually against the scales of the
aethereum armour. The fight, however, though fiercely waged on the part
of the assailants, was soon over, a single stroke of the keen double-
edged dagger--as soon as the assailed could get their hands free--
proving sufficient to instantly destroy the individual fish upon which
it happened to fall. But so fierce were the eels that the conflict
ended only with the slaughter of the last of them. The fish were of
truly enormous size, two or three specimens measuring, as nearly as
could be estimated, fully eighteen feet in length, whilst none were less
than ten feet long. The tour of exploration was then completed without
further adventure; the powerful electric lights of the ship enabled them
to find her without difficulty the moment that they climbed up out of
the depression; and they made good their return with no worse result
than that of excessive fatigue due to their unwonted efforts in forcing
their way through so dense a medium as water of ninety fathoms depth.

So novel an experience as theirs had that day been naturally furnished
the chief topic of conversation at the dinner-table; the professor
especially entertaining his companions with many interesting anecdotes
of strange adventures which had happened to, and curious sights
witnessed by divers at various times and places. At length, during a
lull in the conversation, he said:

"There still remain two trials to which the _Flying Fish_ must be
subjected before we can say that we are fully acquainted with her
powers, namely, a trial of her speed through the water when fully
submerged; and a trial of her behaviour as an ordinary ocean-going ship.
And these trials, I think, should--if you approve, Sir Reginald--be
carried out before we do anything else."

The baronet gave his willing assent to the professor's proposal; and it
was finally arranged that the trials, or, at all events, one of them,
should take place on the morrow.

It having been arranged that early rising should be the order of the day
throughout the voyage, they were aroused at seven o'clock on the
following morning, and sat down to breakfast at eight prompt. By nine
o'clock the meal was over, and the party, pipe or cigar in mouth,
m