of which was that on no account must he allow himself to be
persuaded to go on the submarine voyage of the Dipsey. On his
part, Clewe had no desire to make any change in his plans.
During all the long voyage northward his heart had been at
Sardis.

The Dipsey was a comparatively small vessel, but it afforded
comfortable accommodations for a dozen or more people, and there
was room for all the stores which would be needed for a year.
She was furnished, besides, with books and every useful and
convenient contrivance which had been thought desirable for her
peculiar expedition.

When everything was ready, Roland Clewe took leave of the
officers, the crew, and the passenger on board the Dipsey, and
the last-mentioned, as she shook hands with him, shed tears.

"It seems to me like a sort of a congregational suicide, Mr.
Clewe," said she. "And it can't even be said that all the
members are doin' it of their own accord, for I am not. If Sammy
did not go, I would not, but if he does, I do, and there's the
end of that; and I suppose it won't be very much longer before
there's the end of all of us. I hope you will tell Mrs. Raleigh
that I sent my best love to her with my last words; for even if I
was to see her again, it would seem to me like beginning all over
again, and this would be the end of this part of my life all the
same. What I hope and pray for is that none of the party may die
of any kind of a disease before the rest all go to their end
together; for remains on board an under-water vessel is somethin'
which mighty few nerves would be able to stand."