mentous question that lay
like a load on every soul.

While thinking of these things, Professor Starbottle inquired, if with
such open water as we sailed in, how soon I expected to reach the
pole.

"Well," said I, "we ought to be at the 85th parallel by this time.
Five more degrees, or 300 miles, will reach it. The _Polar King_ will
cover that distance easily in twenty hours. It is now 6 P.M.; at 2
P.M. to-morrow, the 12th of May, we will reach the pole."

Professor Starbottle shook his head deprecatingly. "I am afraid,
commander," said he, "we will never reach the pole."

His look, his voice, his manner, filled me with the idea that
something dreadful was going to happen. My lips grew dry with a sudden
excitement, as I hastily inquired why he felt so sure we would never
reach the object of our search.

"What time is it, commander?" said he.

I pulled forth my chronometer; it was just six o'clock.

"Well, then," said he, "look at the sun. The sun has swung round to
the west, but hasn't fallen any."

I looked at the sun, which, sure enough, stood as high as at mid-day.
I was paralyzed with a nameless dread. I stood rooted to the deck in
anticipation of some dreadful horror.

"Good heavens!" I gasped, "what--what do you mean?"

"I mean," said he, "the sun is not going to fall again on this course.
It's we who are going to fall."

"The sun will fall to its usual position at midnight," I stammered;
"wait--wait till midnight."

"The sun won't fall at midnight," said the professor. "I am afraid to
tell you why," he added.

"In God's name," I shouted, "tell me the meaning of this!"

I will never forget the feeling that crazed me as the professor said:
"I fear, commander, we are falling into the interior of the earth!"

"You are mad, sir!" I shouted. "It cannot be--we are sailing to the
North Pole."

"Wait till midnight, commander," said he, shaking my hand.

I took his hand and echoed his words--"Wait till midnight." After a
pause I inquired if he had mentioned his extraordinary fears to any
one else.

"Not a soul," he replied.

"Then," said I, "say nothing to anybody until midnight."

"Ay, ay, sir," said he, and disappeared.

The sailors evidently expected that something was going to happen on
account of the sun standing still in the heavens. They were gathered
in groups on deck discussing the situation with bated breath. I
noticed them looking at me with wild eyes, like sheep cornered for
executi