"Everybody as glad as they can be. Specially Sarah. Will send
regular congratulations. Private message soon from me. We have
got the devil on board."

Clewe was astonished: Samuel Block was such a quiet, steady
person, so unused to extravagance or excitement, that this
sensational message was entirely beyond his comprehension. He
could fix no possible meaning to it, and he was glad that it did
not come when he was in company with Margaret. It was too late
to disturb her now, and he most earnestly hoped that an
explanation would come before he saw her again.

That night he dreamed that there was a great opening near the
pole, which was the approach to the lower regions, and that the
Dipsey had been boarded by a diabolical passenger, who had come
to examine her papers and inquire into the health of her
passengers and crew.




CHAPTER VIII

THE DEVIL ON THE DIPSEY


After a troubled night, Roland Clewe rose early. He had made up
his mind that what Sammy had to communicate was something of a
secret, otherwise it would have been telegraphed at once. For
this reason he had not sent him a message asking for immediate