.

"We'll make it to-morrow, if we have luck," he said.

CHAPTER XXIX

THE BOILING WATER

The hours passed and the strange voyage continued.

The _Porpoise_ traveled along at good speed, and the professor devoted
most of his time to looking after the different scientific instruments
and gages, for they were nearing the south pole. The deflecting compass,
which when it came directly over the place corresponding to the pole,
would point straight up and down, was assuming more and more of a
perpendicular position.

"We are getting there!" exclaimed the professor with delight. "A few
hours more and we will have won the goal!"

There was considerable excitement on board when the professor's
announcement was made. Though few of the adventurers cared as much for
the scientific achievement as did Mr. Henderson, they were all glad he
was about to succeed. To most of them the locating of the south pole was
no different from visiting some new country, excepting that there were
more adventures than on most voyages.

At dusk the _Porpoise_ went to the surface and during the night traveled
along atop of the billows. In the morning she dived below again. The
engine was started at high speed and the deflecting needle dipped still
more.

"We's gittin' dar!" exclaimed Washington as he oiled the various
bearings of the machinery.

Breakfast was served and hurriedly eaten, for the excitement was telling
on every one. After the meal had been cleared away they all sat in the
darkened cabin looking out at the water as it slipped past the glass
windows. Big and little fish swam up and peered into the bull's-eyes and
then darted away.

"That's sort of queer," remarked Jack a little later.

"What is?" asked Mark, who was sitting near his chum.

"All the fish seem to have suddenly disappeared," replied Jack. "There
were hundreds a little while ago, and now I haven't seen one looking in
the windows for some time."

"Perhaps there's a big fish on their trail," observed Mark. "That's what
makes 'em take to the deep sea weed."

"Maybe so," replied Jack.

A little later Professor Henderson entered the room. He went over,
looked at the thermometer, and then called to Washington:

"Have you got the heat turned on?"

"No, sah! I ain't done truned on no superheated vapor into de
radiators," replied the colored man. "I were jest thinkin' dat we'd hit
de south pole by de feel of it."

"It is getting strangely warm," admitte