"You wouldn't say so, Perfessor, if you'd seen him," spoke Washington. "He were all in white, tall an' slim, an' big red eyes, an' a green nose, an' fire comin' from his mouth an'--" "Nonsense," interrupted Jack. "It was nothing but a white object, Professor Henderson. I saw it." "And what do you think it was?" asked the inventor. "I--I can hardly say," replied Jack. "Of course I don't believe in ghosts, but this--" "It was probably a mist from the ocean," interrupted the professor. "Don't let me hear any more of it. Washington, go below. Your watch is up and Jack will take charge. I don't believe there will be any more ghosts." Nor were there that night. The _Porpoise_ glided along, requiring little attention, and when morning broke was several miles nearer the southern pole. The journey was continued beneath the waves and it was found much cooler under them than upon the surface, for the ship was in the midst of the equatorial heat. About four o'clock in the afternoon, when all was quiet aboard, there came a sudden yell from the engine room. Washington's voice could be heard calling for help. Then it died away in a groan. "Something has happened!" called Jack. "Washington is in trouble." He hurried toward where the machinery could be heard buzzing. The professor, with Andy and Mark followed. They expected to see the colored man caught in some shaft or belt, but he was nowhere in sight. "Perhaps he has fallen into the ocean," suggested Mark. "The engine room does not open into the sea," answered the professor. A deep groan came from some corner of the engine room. "There he is!" cried Jack. But a careful search failed to reveal Washington. Still he could be heard to groan at intervals. Bill and Tom came and aided in the search, while Mrs. Johnson, who was worried at the unusual activity, asked what the trouble was. Captain Henderson did not tell her, for, as he said afterward, he did not want any women fainting away on his ship. At his request Mrs. Johnson went back to her cabin, and the hunt for Washington continued. "Here he is!" cried Jack at last. The boy had climbed up on a small ladder that led to the big storage battery tanks. He had looked down, and there, in the large metal box had spied the colored man on the bottom. Washington was unconscious and breathing heavily. "He has been overcome by the fumes of the sulphuric acid!" exclaimed the professor. "We must get him out quickly or he will die!" "I'll get him!" cried Andy. The old hunter grabbed a small step ladder that stood against the wall of the engine room. With this on his shoulder he climbed up the steps which led to the top of the storage battery tank. Then, by means of his ladder, he descended inside.