r touch bottom he sent the
current through the insulated wire, a patch of vivid white light, like a
patch of moonlight, immediately shining out beneath the waves and
showing that the lantern was properly performing its duty. Then they
waited.

Not for very long, however. An interval of perhaps five minutes
elapsed, and then a quivering jerky motion became communicated to the
rope-ladder, followed a minute later by the appearance of von
Schalckenberg in his suit of diving armour. He stepped quietly into the
boat, and whilst he busied himself in doffing his glittering panoply,
the lamp was extinguished, the ladder hauled inboard, the anchors
tripped, and the two boats made their way slowly to the westward,
heading in for Nettlestone Point and the Solent.

They arrived at Portsmouth about half-past seven o'clock, and Sir
Reginald at once made his way to the Custom House to get the boats'
cargoes cleared. He was fortunate enough to find in the collector a man
with whom he had had several previous transactions, and who was
consequently pretty well acquainted with him. This facilitated matters
greatly, and by half-past eight the duty (a very considerable sum) had
been paid and the goods passed, so that nothing further remained but to
land everything and have it conveyed to the railway-station for
transmission to town. This done the two boats were taken into "The
Camber" and put under the care of a trustworthy man, after which the
party breakfasted at the "George," proceeding to town directly
afterwards by the twelve-o'clock express.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

A TROOP OF UNICORNS.

A week later, the four friends once more found themselves beneath the
roof of "The Migrants'", where it had been arranged that they were to
meet and take luncheon together prior to their journey down to
Portsmouth to rejoin the _Flying Fish_. On comparing notes it was found
that each had, according to his own views, made the best possible use of
his time, the professor having not only placed the mammoth's skin in the
hands of an eminent taxidermist, but also prepared and read before the
Royal Society a paper on "The Open Polar Sea," which had created a
profound impression on the collective mind of that august body;
Lethbridge and Mildmay had seized the opportunity for paying a too-long-
deferred visit to their respective mothers; and Sir Reginald had, acting
upon the best obtainable advice, conveyed the four parcels of diamonds
belonging t