Under the Sea to the North Pole by Pierre Maël

did not at once give them some sort of explanation to prove that he had reasons for speaking as he did.
    “Gentlemen,” he continued, “I owe it to you and to myself, not to leave you under any mistake in this matter. What I mean is this.
    My brother, Marc D’Ermont, who is a chemist like Monsieur Schnecker, has had the good fortune to make a marvellous and unprecedented discovery. This discovery we are to be the first to put to practical use; and a preliminary trial which was recently made enables me to assure you in advance of our complete success. Let it be enough for you, for the moment, to know that my brother has succeeded in liquefying, and even solidifying, and consequently obtaining in a volume out of all proportion to its usual power, a primordial gas, a simple body up to the present supposed to be permanent.” The whole assembly were on their feet. Hubert spoke with a sincerity, an energy, which carried conviction to all.
    Once again it was only Schnecker who spoke. “Ah! Quite so!” said he, ironically. “Whatever brotherly esteem I might be ready to render my brother that would appear to be a little too strong. I should like to see that to believe in it.”
    A murmur of disapproval received this expression of incredulity.
    “You shall see it, sir,” said Hubert, “and that very soon.” And with that the debate and the incident concluded. De Keralio took advantage of the silence which followed this really astounding revelation to continue,—
    “Independently of the ordinary means, there are two others which depend on the admirable discovery of which you have just heard from Lieutenant D’Ermont. You know, gentlemen, how many methods have been suggested and talked about by men who knew what they were saying and who had often been engaged in polar exploration, and by mere crack-brained dreamers. Know, then, there is nothing too imaginative for the science of today to realize, providing that the idea has a rational foundation, and does not seek the quadrature of the circle.
    “Among the means deemed practicable by men of experience, there are two which have secured our suffrages; if the ice-field cannot be penetrated it can always be gone over or under, over it by the aid of our aerostat, under it by means of a submarine boat. Both these means we are prepared to attempt. We have the balloon; we have the submarine boat. We can then, as you see, strike boldly the north. Unless there is a catastrophe which it is impossible at present to foresee, we will plant our feet in the very centre of the pole, and the colours of France will he triumphantly displayed where Fortune will have led us.”
    At these enthusiastic words the assembly rose excitedly. At the same moment Isabelle, accompanied by Tina Le Floc’h, entered the dining-room. The nurse carried a tray crowded with good things; on a table a little distance off the tea things proved an immediate attraction.
    Said Captain Lacrosse with a smile to Lieutenant Pol,—
    “Let all the men come in. Monsieur De Keralio would like to give them the news himself.”
    The order was executed on the spot. The crew entered respectfully, and ranged themselves round the table.
    De Keralio repeated what he had just said to the officers. He added in conclusion,—
    “My friends, the hour has come to begin work in earnest. I remind you of your engagements only to let you understand what we owe to each other. Everything, safety as well as success, depends on our mutual understanding and united effort. Before we begin our preliminary reconnaissances it is natural that we should unite in a cheer for the love of our country. Hearts up, then, and vive la France!”
    ”Vive la France!” repeated every voice. And Schnecker, who felt he was watched, did as the others did, and shouted, “Vive la France!”
    ”We must finish the evening pleasantly,” said Isabelle.
    Everything had been provided for. The piano was there, landed the day before from the Polar Star. Isabelle sat