"We're getting near the equator," explained the professor.
One afternoon, when dinner had just been finished, and the ship, under the direction of Washington, was gliding along well under the sea, there came a sudden shock.
"We've hit something!" exclaimed Mr. Henderson as he jumped for the conning tower. The shock was repeated.
"What was it?" asked someone.
"Shut down the engine!" yelled the inventor to the colored man. "What do you want to go on ramming an object after you've once hit it? Slow down the engine!"
"Power's shut off!" cried Washington. "We didn't hit nothin'! Something hit us!"
"What do you mean?" asked Mr. Henderson.
"Somethin's rammin' us," went on Washington.
"It must be a big monster. I was sterrin' along an' there was nothin' in de road, when all of a suddint, ker-plunk! We's hit. Look ahead, an' you can't see nothin'!"
The professor, and the boys, who had followed him, gazed out of the conning tower window. There was nothing forward but a vast expanse of water.