s, under the shining stars.

CHAPTER XXII

UNDER FIRE

"I shouldn't want to go through that experience again," remarked Mr.
Henderson, as he, with all of the ship's company except Mrs. Johnson and
Nellie went on deck. "I thought we were lost, sure."

"Lucky our engine didn't go disproportionatin' herself at de mostess
criticless moment," put in Washington. "Golly, but she suttinly did
hum!"

"And you deserve credit for making her do the humming," went on the
professor with a smile.

"Well, we didn't catch the ghost," remarked Jack, "though I certainly
saw him, it or her, whatever the thing is. I felt it too."

"It's rather strange," spoke the professor. "Every time, or nearly every
time the ghost, as I suppose we must call it for the present, makes its
appearance, something terrible happens to the ship. I hope it doesn't
show up too often."

It was three o'clock in the morning, and they had battled with the
whirlpool over two hours. They talked of little else, and each one told
how he or she felt.

"It was just like twisting yourself up tight in the swing, and then
letting the rope unwind," said Nellie, and they all agreed that she had
described the sensation perfectly. They laughed, also, a thing they had
felt little like doing a short time previous.

The engine had run so hard, and some of the bearings had become so warm,
that for the rest of the night the professor decided to let the
machinery remain stationary. This would give it time to cool down he
said, and they could make up the time lost the next day.

Tired out with the night's worry and labors they all slept late the next
morning, and it was nearly ten o'clock before breakfast was over. The
ship was started on her course once more, and Jack, who was steering,
made the engine hum as the submarine scudded along, submerged about
fifty feet.

"When you have time I would like to talk to you," said Mrs. Johnson to
Captain Henderson.

"I'm at your service now," replied the inventor.

"What are you going to do with Nellie and me?" the lady went on.

"Take you to the south pole with us," was the answer, with a smile.

"It's very kind of you, and I don't want to put you to any trouble,"
went on Mrs. Johnson. "But I would like to go back north."

"I'd like to oblige you," returned the inventor, "but I hate to turn
back now. We are well on our voyage, and I may never get another chance
to locate the pole. Don't you want to accompany us? Thin