Sammy had explained his character and probable intentions to Captain Hubbell, who had thereupon delivered to Mr.Block a very severe lecture for not telling him before.
"If I've got a scoundrel on board I want to know it, and I hope this sort of thing won't happen again, Mr.Block." "I don't see how it can," answered Sammy; "and I must admit I ought to have told you as soon as you took command; but people don't always do all they ought to do; and, as for tellin' Mr.Gibbs, I would not do that, for his mind is rigged on a hair-spring balance anyway; it wouldn't do to upset him." "And what are we goin' to do with the feller ?" said the captain.

"Now that I know what this Pole is, I wish I had let him go down to the other pole and stay there." "I thought so at first," said Sammy; "but I'm glad he didn't; I'd hate to think of our glorious pole with that thing floppin' on it." At last all was ready to anchor the great buoy, and preparations were in progress for this important event, when everybody was startled by a shout from Mr.Marcy.
"Hello!" he cried.

"What's that?
A sail ?" "Where away ?" shouted the captain.
"To the south," replied Mr.Marcy.And instantly everybody was looking in opposite directions.

But Mr.Marcy's outstretched arm soon indicated to all the position of the cause of his outcry.

It was a black spot clearly visible upon the surface of the sea, and apparently about two miles away.