had been watching with jealous scrutiny the inventions and
researches of Roland Clewe, and he well understood that if they
should discover his processes and plans before they were brought
to successful completion he must expect to be robbed of many of
the results of his labors. The first news that came to him on
his recent return to America had been the tale told by Sammy
Block, of the man in the air who had been endeavoring to peer
down into his lens-house, and he had heard of other attempts of
this kind. Therefore it was that the telegraphic instrument on
the Dipsey had been given into the sole charge of Samuel Block,
who had become a very capable operator, and who could be relied
upon to send no news over his wire which could give serviceable
information to the operators along the line from Cape Tariff to
Sardis, New Jersey.

But Clewe did not in the least desire that Margaret Raleigh
should be kept waiting until he came back from the arctic regions
for news from the expedition, which she as well as himself had
sent out into the unknown North. Consequently Samuel Block had
been told that he might communicate with Mrs. Raleigh as soon and
as often as he pleased, remembering always to be careful never to
send any word which might reveal anything to the detriment of his
employers. When a message should be received on board the Dipsey
that Mr. Clewe was ready to communicate with her, frequent
reports were expected from the Master Electrician, but it would
be Sammy who would unlock the cover which had been placed over
the instrument.

Before he retired to his bunk on the first night on board the
Dipsey, Sammy thought it proper to send a message to Mrs.