our party bade farewell to
the polar sea. The great ball buoy, with its tall pole and weathervane,
floated proudly over the northern end of the earth's axis. The little
telegraph-house was all in order, and made as secure as possible, and
under it the Dipsey people made a "cache" of provisions, leaving a note
in several languages to show what they had done.

"If the whale wants to come ashore to get somethin' to eat and send a
message, why, here's his chance!" said Sammy; "but it strikes me that if
any human beings ever reach this pole again, they won't come the way
we came, and they'll not see this little house, for it won't take
many snow-storms--even if they are no worse than some of those we have
seen--to cover it up out o' sight."

"I don't believe the slightest good will ever result on account of
leaving this instrument here," said Mr. Gibbs; "but it seemed the right
thing to do, and I would not be satisfied to go away and leave the
useless end of the cable in these regions. We will set up the highest
rod we have by the little house, and then we can do no more."

When the Dipsey started, everybody on board looked over the stern to see
if they could catch a glimpse of their old companion, the whale. Nearly
all of them were sorry that it was necessary to go away and desert this
living being in his lonely solitude. They had not entered the canal when
they saw the whale. Two tall farewell spouts rose into the air, and then
his tail with its damaged fluke was lifted aloft and waved in a sort of
gigantic adieu. Cheers and shouts of good-bye came from the Dipsey, and
the whale disappeared from their sight.

"I hope he won't come up under us," said Mrs. Block. "But I don't
believe he will do that. He always kept at a respectful distance, and as
long as we are goin' to sail in a canal, I wouldn't mind in the least
if he followed us. But as for goin' under water with him--I don't want
anybody to speak of it."

Our exploring party now found their arctic life much more interesting
than it had lately been, for, from time to time, they were all enabled
to leave the vessel and travel, if not upon solid land, upon very
solid ice. The Dipsey carried several small boats, and even Sarah Block
frequently landed and took a trip upon a motor sledge. Sometimes the ice
was rough, or the frozen snow was piled up into hillocks, and in such
cases it was easy enough to walk and draw the light sledges; but as a
general thing the people o