into the unseen regions of the nether ice, but he knew that it
was his duty not to lose time or to risk his life when he was on
the brink of a discovery far more wonderful, far more important
to the world, than the finding of the pole. Therefore he
determined that he would go with the expedition no farther than
the point where the ice would prevent the farther progress of the
vessel in which they would sail from New York.

It was not to be supposed that Roland Clewe intended to intrust
such an expedition to the absolute command of such a man as old
Samuel Block. There would be on board the Dipsey an electrician
who had long been preparing himself for this expedition; there
were to be other scientific men; there would be a submarine
engineer, and such minor officers and assistants as would be
necessary; but Clewe wanted some one who would represent him, who
could be trusted to act in his place in case of success or of
failure, who could be thoroughly depended upon should a serious
emergency arise. Such a man was Samuel Block, and, somewhat
strange to say, old Sammy was perfectly willing to go to the
pole. He was always ready for anything within bounds of his
duty, and those bounds included everything which Mr. Clewe wished
done.

Sammy was an old-fashioned man, and therefore, in talking over
arrangements with Roland Clewe, he insisted upon having a sailor
in the party.

"In old times," said he, "when I was a young man, nobody ever
thought of settin' out on any kind of sea-voyagin' without havin'
a sailor along. The fact is, they used to be pretty much all