“And of how there is plenty of room, uncle, for any number of wonderful creatures such as we have never seen yet. But are you always going sailing on like this?”
“Why, aren’t you satisfied?” said Uncle Paul.
“Satisfied, uncle? Oh yes, with what we are doing. But I haven’t had nearly enough. I should like to go oil sailing like this for—”
“Ever?” said the doctor dryly.
“Oh no, uncle; I mean for long enough yet. But I say, isn’t the world beautiful?”
“More beautiful, boy, than words can express,” replied the doctor gravely. “But no. Now we are getting into the Southern Tropics I am thinking of going more to the east and into the great bay, so as to get within range of the African shores. Perhaps we shall make for the mouths of one or two of the rivers, and get within soundings where we can do more dredging. I anticipate some strange discoveries in those portions of the ocean; but at present we will keep on skimming the surface and finding what we can.”
And so during the next two or three days they went sailing on, and found something that they had least expected, to Rodd Harding’s great wonder and delight.