“Jove!” murmured Jerry. “That’s some gun, all right!”
“I am glad you like it,” said Dr. Klauss, and his tone was so different from that he had used before that a gleam of hope came to Mr. Sheldon and the others. Possibly the commander would let his prisoners go without the necessity of taking extreme measures.
“And that is the end of the whale,” remarked Ned.
“Yes, and I am glad you called me,” said Dr. Klauss. “He might have damaged us.”
Mr. Sheldon resolved to pursue the seeming advantage, and asked:
“How much longer is this voyage going to last, Dr. Klauss?”
“That I cannot say,” was the somewhat stiff answer. “I am not in a position to decide yet. But I will say one thing, that, if you like, you will witness some interesting events. I am soon going to the bottom of the sea, and as I wish to make some close observations I am going out of the boat in a diving suit. You may come with me, if you like,” he said to Professor Snodgrass.
“May I?” cried the little scientist eagerly. “Then I certainly shall. I must get those specimens of hermit crabs. Oh! what an opportunity has come to me. I would not have missed it for a fortune!”