, make electricity take the place of steam, and so store
the air as to make it sufficient for use for twenty-four hours, is one
of those great spirits who think of everything, and with whom we cannot
hope to cope on equal terms."

"Don't know so much about that, sir," said Stump. "I once had a round
with a professional boxer and laid him low in two minutes."

Mont laughed, and the conversation dropped.

The voyage continued to the Indian Sea, and was not remarkable for
anything more exciting than the capture of several turtles in nets, and
the shooting of various sea birds, which supplied an agreeable addition
to the comforts of the table.

In the Indian Sea they encountered hundreds of the nautilus tribe
floating gracefully on the surface of the water, their tiny sails
spread, catching the wind, and looking like little ships.

One day Captain Vindex entered.

"Would you like to see the banks upon which grow the oysters which
contain the pearls?" asked the captain.

"Under the sea?" said Mont.

"An excursion, submarine?" said the professor.

"Precisely so. Are you inclined to go?"

"Very much, indeed," replied all in chorus, with the exception of Stump.

"This is not the time of year for the pearl divers to be at work," said
the captain, "though we may see one or two. I will bring the ship nearer
land, and show you some of the treasures of the deep. They fish for
pearls in the Gulf of Bengal, in the Indian seas, as well as those of
China and Japan, off the coast of South America, and in the Gulf of
Panama and that of California, but it is at Ceylon that they find the
richest harvest."

"That is a fact," said the professor; "the richest pearls, as you say,
are found here."

"Right," said the captain. "We, however, shall see more than any diver
ever dreams of. Perhaps I shall find my pearl worth a million, for which
I have searched so long. I shall be at your service, gentlemen, in a few
hours."

When the captain had departed the professor was very grave.

Carl and Mont were delighted at the prospect of finding pearls, but
Stump bit his nails in silence.

"I'll take home a pearl or two for luck!" exclaimed Mont.

"If you ever get home, sir," remarked Stump, half aloud.

"You'll go with us, won't you?" asked Mont.

"I'll go wherever you and Master Carl go, Master Mont," replied Stump,
"because it's my duty to watch over you. But I aint going to have no
sort of friendship with that captain, not by a