we've
got the whole of 'em right under us."

Now Samuel Block came on deck, where everybody else on board soon
gathered. With a furled flag in his hand, dressed in his best and
cleanest clothes, and with a large fur cloak thrown over his shoulders,
Mr Block advanced towards the ring on the deck, near the compass.

But he was yet several yards from this point when a black figure,
crouching close to the deck, issued from among the men, a little in the
rear of the party, and made a dash towards the ring. It was the Pole,
Rovinski, who had been standing quivering with excitement, waiting for
this supreme moment. But almost at the same instant there sprang from
the side of Mr. Gibbs another figure, with a face livid with agitation.
This was Mr. Marcy, who had noticed the foreigner's excitement and
had been watching him. Like a stone from a catapult, Mr. Marcy rushed
towards Rovinski, taking a course diagonal to that of the latter, and,
striking him with tremendous force just before he reached the ring, he
threw him against the rail with such violence that the momentum given
to his head and body carried them completely over it, and his legs
following, the man went headlong into the sea.

Instantly there was a shout of horror. Sarah Block screamed violently,
and her husband exclaimed: "That infernal Pole! He has gone down to the
pole, and I hope he may stay there!"

"What does all this mean, Mr. Marcy?" roared Captain Hubbell; "and why
did you throw him overboard?"

"Never mind now," cried Sammy, his voice rising above the confusion. "I
will tell you all about it. I see what he was up to. He wanted to take
possession of the pole in his own beastly name, most likely."

"I don't understand a word of all this," exclaimed Mr. Gibbs. "But there
is the man; he has risen to the surface."

"Shall we let him sink," cried Sammy, "or haul him aboard?"

"Let the man sink!" yelled Captain Hubbell. "What do you mean, sir?"

"Well, I suppose it wouldn't do," said Sammy, "and we must get him
aboard."

Captain Hubbell roared out orders to throw out life-preservers and lower
a boat; but, remembering that he was not on board a vessel of the olden
times, he changed the order and commanded that a patent boat-hook be
used upon the man in the water.

The end of this boat-hook, which could be shot out like a fishing-rod,
was hooked into Rovinski's clothes, and he was pulled to the vessel.
Then a rope was lowered, and he was hauled on bo