t that these two accurately coincide you
pull toward you a small lever within easy reach of your hand, and the
two arms glide in through the slit in the side of the compass-box,
passing one on each side of the needle on the edge of the card, and your
apparatus is then connected up ready for action. Now, so long as the
ship's bows remain pointed accurately to the south, the south point on
the compass-card continues coincident with the lubber's mark, and
nothing happens. But should the ship deviate ever so slightly from her
proper course the heavy, yet sensitive, compass needle at once swings
round in sympathy; the small needle on the edge of the card moves the
two slender arms which embrace it; the downward-pointing needle at the
further extremity of these arms travels along the arc; and electric
communication is at once established with the steering machinery, which
promptly acts in such a way as to bring back the ship to her original
course."

"Capital! Admirable!" ejaculated Sir Reginald and the lieutenant
together, the former continuing:

"Upon my word, professor, you are a veritable wizard--a magician with
powers exceeding those of the most potent of your brethren referred to
in the `Arabian Nights.'"

The professor made a laughing disclaimer. "No, no, my dear sir," said
he, "I am no magician, but only a poor scientist. Nevertheless, the
wonders of science far exceed those of the `Arabian Nights,' and will
well repay the man who cares to patiently study them."

Enlivened by conversation of a character so interesting to all present,
the sitting was prolonged to quite an inordinate length, and though no
one, except perhaps the professor, noted the fact, it was past midnight
when the adventurous quartette rose from the table, and taking their
wine and cigars with them, moved into the music-room, at the same time
dismissing the patient George for the night.

The music-room was a much larger apartment than the dining saloon,
being, like the latter, the full width of the superstructure, and
measuring forty feet between the fore and the after bulkheads. It was
the next room abaft the dining saloon, and was even more elaborately
furnished and decorated than the latter. The walls, divided up in the
same manner as those of the other apartment, were adorned with choice
pictures, and exquisite statues of frosted aethereum were grouped on
pedestals at frequent intervals all round the room. A coved and
panelled ceil