"Do you know, Ellerton?" asked Mr. McKay.
"No, sir; I had no opportunity of examining a chart."
"It's approximately three thousand fathoms. Between the Galapagos and the Marquesas is a vast sunken plateau. Sunlight never penetrates these great depths; probably all is dark beyond two hundred fathoms."
"And are there fish or marine animals in the bed of the ocean?"
"No one knows. Possibly there are some marine animals capable of withstanding the enormous pressure, for it may be taken for granted that at three thousand fathoms the pressure per square inch is about three tons."
"Is it always calm in the Doldrums?" continued Terence, for he had never before "crossed the line."
"Often for weeks at a stretch. What's your experience of these, Ellerton?"
"Three weeks with the canvas hanging straight down from the yards. If you threw anything overboard it would be alongside for days. I can assure you, Terence, that I am jolly glad we're on board a steamer."
"How did you get out of it?" continued the young Canadian, eager for further information.
"By one of the frequent and sudden hurricanes that spring up in the belt of the calms; but even that was looked upon as a slice of luck."