would be about
800 miles. It would make but little difference in point of time,"
answered the captain.

"Why wouldn't it take longer to travel 1,400 miles?" asked Ralph.

"Because on the long route we would be able to travel four-fifths of the
way on the surface, and would not have to avoid mines and nets. The
Channel route is a dangerous one, requiring the utmost caution," said
the captain.

The second morning Alfred was outside, as usual, consulting the
instruments, when a voice remarked in response to an inquiry: "48, 10."
He paid no attention to it at the time, but later on, in a conversation,
remarked to the captain:

"Some one in the conning tower, this morning, said '48, 10.' What do you
suppose he meant by that?"

"Glad you remembered that. Are you sure the figures you give are
correct?" asked the captain eagerly.

"Sure of it," was Alfred's reply.

"Then we are near the English Channel. Good; I am glad to know that. Did
you hear them refer to any other figures?" asked the captain.

"What would the other figures be?" asked Ralph.

"Of course, I can only guess. The figures you have given me
unquestionably represent forty-eight degrees and ten minutes north
latitude. What interests me most is to get our position east and west,"
said the captain.

"About what longitude are we in?" asked Ralph.

"If we are less than five degrees west we must be in the English
Channel, and it would appear that they are taking the shortest route. If
we should be seven or eight degrees west I should regard it as a pretty
sure symptom that we are going to encircle the British Isles," remarked
the captain.

Late that afternoon Ralph rushed into their little cabin and said:

"I have an idea that I can tell you the direction we are going."

"Have you heard anything?" asked the captain.

"Not a word," answered Ralph. "I have just made an observation," he
continued, laughing.

"That's good," responded the captain. "I think we are sailing north by
west."

"You are wrong," replied Ralph; "we are going due east."

"Are you sure?" asked the captain, exhibiting unusual interest in the
news. "How did you find it out?"

"I saw the sun," said Ralph with a chuckle.

"How and where did you see it?" asked Alfred, incredulously.

"Well, I didn't exactly see the sun, but I saw a streak that came from
the sun," was the reply.

"That's just as good," responded the captain. "Where did you see it?"

"I was at the indicator when