THE PURCHASE OF THE NORTH POLE [Illustration: What would the first inhabitant say? Page 19. ] THE PURCHASE OF THE NORTH POLE A SEQUEL TO “FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON” BY JULES VERNE AUTHOR OF “TWENTY THOUSAND LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA,” “AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS,” “THE FUR COUNTRY,” ETC., ETC. ILLUSTRATED LONDON AND EDINBURGH SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON & COMPANY _Limited_ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PAGE THE NORTH POLAR PRACTICAL ASSOCIATION 7 CHAPTER II. TO SYNDICATE OR NOT TO SYNDICATE 19 CHAPTER III. THE NORTH POLE IS KNOCKED DOWN TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER 27 CHAPTER IV. OLD ACQUAINTANCES 34 CHAPTER V. THE POLAR COAL-FIELD 40 CHAPTER VI. A TELEPHONIC CONVERSATION 47 CHAPTER VII. BARBICANE MAKES A SPEECH 59 CHAPTER VIII. LIKE JUPITER 70 CHAPTER IX. SULPHURIC ALCIDE 75 CHAPTER X. A CHANGE IN PUBLIC OPINION 80 CHAPTER XI. THE CONTENTS OR THE NOTE-BOOK 87 CHAPTER XII. HEROIC SILENCE 91 CHAPTER XIII. A TRULY EPIC REPLY 98 CHAPTER XIV. THE GEOGRAPHICAL VALUE OF _x_ 106 CHAPTER XV. INTERESTING FOR THE INHABITANTS OF THE TERRESTRIAL SPHEROID 107 CHAPTER XVI. THE CHORUS OF TERROR 114 CHAPTER XVII. THE WORKS AT KILIMANJARO 117 CHAPTER XVIII. THE WAMASAI WAIT FOR THE WORD TO FIRE 126 CHAPTER XIX.