I gaze around me in every direction and see no sign of land. On every hand is that circular line which defines earth and sky.

of the ocean. It must be about six o'clock in the evening.

ng upon the first person who entered and force him to answer my questions. I was not aware then that it was day, but it was, and h

ing, I calculated, remained stationary since the previous day-no doubt

artment. Was anybody coming to my cell? Yes, for I heard the creaking of the bolts as they were drawn back, and then the door o

by the arms. A thick cloth was thrown over my head, which was

ld me in an iron grasp. I questioned them, but they made no reply. The men spoke t

they probably did not consider it necessary to do so; but I question very much whe

or to bind either my arms or legs. I was simply res

row passage. Next, the steps of a metallic stairway resounded under our

and I found myself free. I immediately to

ng through the water at a great rate an

, dazzled as I was by the light after my forty-

very dissimilar types of men, to whom it would be impossible to attri

ree hundred tons. She has a fairly wide beam, her masts are strong and lofty, and

heel, and he is keeping her head to

vessel, but it is not to be seen

ne of the sail

he name of

ancy the man does

he captain?

e heed to this than he did

y heel and

Maybe the name of the schooner is engraved upo

rugs his shoulders, and bending, grasps the spokes of the wheel solidly, and brings th

him anywhere. Is he not on board? He must be. They could have had no reason for carrying me off alone. No one could have had any idea t

he is locked in one of the cabins, and trust he h

as set-the wind has fallen, and the few puffs that occasionally come from the east are unfavorable, in view of the fact that we are going in that very di

e propelled by electricity-by a battery of accumulators, or by pile

ted with a screw, and by leaning over the stern I shall be abl

ically as I approach, but makes no e

as is invariably caused by the revolutions of the screw-naught but the long whit

marvellous speed to the vessel? As I have already said,

pays the slightest attent

man who is leaning nonchalantly on the raised hatchway and wh

ed the Count d'Artigas during the latter's visit to Healt

mas Roch, and I am on board the Ebba his schooner-

ut what I want to know. I remember that

e the captain o

person I saw at Healthful Hou

down but does not c

" I continue, "and I want to know why you have car

ign. It is not made to me, however

ndle me down the hatchway. The hatchway stair in reality, I remark, is a perpendicular iron ladd

back in my dark prison

ich is open, and through which the fresh air comes in gusts from the briny. The furn

h two or three dishes. He is a colored lad, and as he is about to withdraw, I try

e, with the intention of putting off all further questioning till s

and I hope I shall be permitted to occupy this cabin for the rema

ned the abduction; that it was he who is responsible for the kidnapping of Thomas Roch, and that co

determined to secure the secret of the fulgurator at no matter what cost? Very likely, and I must therefore be

, his intentions as to the future, whither we are bound, the port to which the schooner belongs, and this mys

bin is bolted on the outside, the best thing I can do is to get into my bunk and let mys

reak, and having performed my a

e. I find that it has been unbolted, and pushing

re two men, one of whom is the captain. The latter manifests no surpr

eatures are delicately chiselled, his eyes are bright, and his expression is intelligent and not at all displeasing. He is somewhat of th

ut it. Thus there is a Greek, an Italian, and a crew recruited from every corner of the e

his Spanish name and Asiatic

at the wheel, who does not appear to pay any particular attention to the compass in front of him. He seems to pay more he

imited on the horizon by a single speck of land. Two sailors watch his every movem

ll be permitted to com

d Captain Spade and En

ths of the salt, vivifying atmosphere. Added to the air surcharged with oxygen is a magnificent sunset in a cloudless sky. Does he perceive the change in his situation? Has he already forgotten ab

llectual condition has undergone no change, and his reason will return only when he is spoken to about his inventions. The Count d'Artigas is perfectly aware of this

Roch!" I

after gazing at me fixedly for an

uely and walks away, without having recognized me,

e men, and if they speak to him will he be more r

ueer progress of the schooner. He gazes at the masts and the furled sails. Then he turns back and stops at the place where,

as being strange, too. He cannot explain what I found inexpli

as is the schooner's course they easily pass her, leaping and gam

ttention to them, but

lest he should fall overboard, hurry to

ey to violent excitement. He turns about and ges

pavilion of Healthful House on the night we were abducted. He will have to be seiz

o not lose sight of him for a moment. They a

ls are not set, he goes up to it and flinging his arms around it, tr

where the same performance is gone through. He waxes more and more

to fear that he will leap into the rigging and climb to the cross-tre

he stays, but are unable to do so. I know that during his fits he is endowed with the strength

nhappy madman is borne to the deck, where two big sail

here till he gets over his fit. This is what will be done in conformi

nd recog

on his face and an imperious manner, j

him. I want an explanat

ight, sir?

of might," rep

heel, and Thomas Ro