f may be--supposing it to exist in the
form of a thing," said Alf, "I cannot tell, but it has already been of
great use in creating expeditions to the Polar regions. You know well
enough, Butterface, for you've been round the Capes of Good Hope and
Horn often enough, what a long long voyage it is to the eastern seas, on
the other side of the world, and what a saving of time and expense it
would be if we could find a shorter route to those regions, from which
so many of our necessaries and luxuries come. Now, if we could only
discover an open sea in the Arctic regions which would allow our ships
to sail in a straight line from England across the North Pole to
Behring's Straits, the voyage to the East would be reduced to only about
5000 miles, and we should be able to reach Japan in three or four weeks.
Just think what an advantage that would be to commerce!"

"Tea at twopence a pound an' sugar to match--not to mention molasses and
baccy, you ignorant nigger!" said Benjy;--"pass the biscuits."

"An' now, massa Alf," said Butterface with an eager look, "we's
diskivered dis open sea--eh!"

"Well, it seems as if we had."

"But what good will it do us," argued Benjy, becoming more earnest in
the discussion, "if it's all surrounded by a ring of ice such as we have
passed over on sledges."

"If," repeated Alf, "in that `if' lies the whole question. No doubt
Enterprise has fought heroically for centuries to overleap this supposed
ring of ice, and science has stood expectant on the edge, looking
eagerly for the day when human perseverance shall reveal the secrets of
the Far North. It is true, also, that _we_ at last appear to have
penetrated into the great unknown, but who shall say that the so-called
ice-ring has been fully examined? Our explorations have been hitherto
confined to one or two parts of it. We may yet find an ever-open
entrance to this open Polar sea, and our ships may yet be seen sailing
regularly to and fro over the North Pole."

"Just so," said Benjy, "a North Pole steam line once a month to Japan
and back--first class accommodation for second class fares. Walrus and
white bear parties dropped on the way at the Pole Star Hotel, an easy
trip from the Pole itself, which may be made in Eskimo cabs in summer
and reindeer sleighs in winter. Return tickets available for six
months--touching at China, India, Nova Zembla, Kamtschatka, and Iceland.
Splendid view of Hecla and the great Mer de Glace of Greenl