ustered in the pilot-house. Here the first thing the professor did was
to produce a chart, to which, on spreading it open on the table, he
called Lieutenant Mildmay's attention, saying:

"Being a seaman by profession, you are undoubtedly the most skilful
navigator of the party; and I therefore propose--with Sir Reginald's
full approval, which I have already obtained--to confide the navigation
of the _Flying Fish_ to you. Now this,"--making a pencil mark on the
chart--"is our present position; and this,"--pointing to another pencil
mark off Cape Finisterre, which presented the appearance of having been
very carefully laid down--"is the point to which I wish you to navigate
us in the first instance."

"Very good," said Mildmay. "I undertake the charge with pleasure. Only
I must stipulate, that when making long passages you will rise to the
surface occasionally, in order that I may be enabled to take the
observations necessary to verify our position."

"Of course, of course," answered the professor. "Now, are we all ready
to start?"

An answer in the affirmative was given; and von Schalckenberg thereupon
moved the lever which actuated the simple machinery controlling the four
anchors in the bilge keels. The ship being thus released from the
ground, he next opened the cocks connecting the air and water chambers;
a stream of compressed air at once rushed into the latter, forcing out a
certain quantity of water, and the ship began to rise.

"We will so adjust our position that the top of the lantern surmounting
the pilot-house shall be submerged to a depth of six fathoms; at which
depth we shall not only be enabled to pass clear of all ships, but shall
also, if the water be clear, be enabled to see pretty well what is
before and above us," said the professor, fixing his eyes upon a gauge
before him. "There," he continued, closing the air-cocks as the index
pointed to six fathoms, "now we shall do very well. Are you ready to
set the course, Mildmay?"

"A run of six hundred and fifty miles, upon a west-south-west course,
will take us to about the spot you have indicated," answered Mildmay.

"Which is a trifle less than five and a half hours' run, if our speed
under water is equal to what it was through the air. But I anticipate
that we shall do better than that; the resistance of water is
considerably greater than that of air to the vessel's passage through
it, I admit; but I anticipate that this will be more th