Basalt is a brown rock of igneous4 origin. It assumes regular forms, which astonish by their singular appearance. Here we found Nature proceeding5 geometrically, and working quite after a human fashion, as if she had employed the plummet6 line, the compass and the rule. If elsewhere she produces grand artistic7 effects by piling up huge masses without order or connection—if elsewhere we see truncated8 cones9, imperfect pyramids, with an odd succession of lines; here, as if wishing to give a lesson in regularity10, and preceding the architects of the early ages, she has erected11 a severe order of architecture, which neither the splendors12 of Babylon nor the marvels13 of Greece ever surpassed.
I had often heard of the Giant's Causeway in Ireland, and of Fingal's Cave in one of the Hebrides, but the grand spectacle of a real basaltic formation had never yet come before my eyes.
This at Stapi gave us an idea of one in all its wonderful beauty and grace.
The wall of the fjord, like nearly the whole of the peninsula, consisted of a series of vertical14 columns, in height about thirty feet. These upright pillars of stone, of the finest proportions, supported an archivault of horizontal columns which formed a kind of half-vaulted roof above the sea. At certain intervals15, and below this natural basin, the eye was pleased and surprised by the sight of oval openings through which the outward waves came thundering in volleys of foam16. Some banks of basalt, torn from their fastenings by the fury of the waves, lay scattered17 on the ground like the ruins of an ancient temple—ruins eternally young, over which the storms of ages swept without producing any perceptible effect!
This was the last stage of our journey. Hans had brought us along with fidelity18 and intelligence, and I began to feel somewhat more comfortable when I reflected that he was to accompany us still farther on our way.
When we halted before the house of the Rector, a small and incommodious cabin, neither handsome nor more comfortable than those of his neighbors, I saw a man in the act of shoeing a horse, a hammer in his hand, and a leathern apron19 tied round his waist.
"Be happy," said the eider-down hunter, using his national salutation in his own language.
"God dag—good day!" replied the former, in excellent Danish.
"Kyrkoherde," cried Hans, turning round and introducing him to my uncle.
"The Rector," repeated the worthy20 Professor; "it appears, my dear Harry21, that this worthy man is the Rector, and is not above doing his own work."
During the speaking of these words the guide intimated to the Kyrkoherde what was the true state of the case. The good man, ceasing from his occupation, gave a kind of halloo, upon which a tall woman, almost a giantess, came out of the hut. She was at least six feet high, which in that region is something considerable.
My first impression was one of horror. I thought she had come to give us the Icelandic kiss. I had, however, nothing to fear, for she did not even show much inclination22 to receive us into her house.
The room devoted23 to strangers appeared to me to be by far the worst in the presbytery; it was narrow, dirty and offensive. There was, however, no choice about the matter. The Rector had no notion of practicing the usual cordial and antique hospitality. Far from it. Before the day was over, I found we had to deal with a blacksmith, a fisherman, a hunter, a carpenter, anything but a clergyman. It must be said in his favor that we had caught him on a weekday; probably he appeared to greater advantage on the Sunday.
These poor priests receive from the Danish Government a most ridiculously inadequate24 salary, and collect one quarter of the tithe25 of their parish—not more than sixty marks current, or about L3 10s. sterling26. Hence the necessity of working to live. In truth, we soon found that our host did not count civility among the cardinal27 virtues28.
My uncle soon became aware of the kind of man he had to deal with. Instead of a worthy and learned scholar, he found a dull ill-mannered peasant. He therefore resolved to start on his great expedition as soon as possible. He did not care about fatigue29, and resolved to spend a few days in the mountains.
The preparations for our departure were made the very next day after our arrival at Stapi; Hans now hired three Icelanders to take the place of the horses—which could no longer carry our luggage. When, however, these worthy islanders had reached the bottom of the crater30, they were to go back and leave us to ourselves. This point was settled before they would agree to start.
On this occasion, my uncle partly confided31 in Hans, the eider-duck hunter, and gave him to understand that it was his intention to continue his exploration of the volcano to the last possible limits.
Hans listened calmly, and then nodded his head. To go there, or elsewhere, to bury himself in the bowels32 of the earth, or to travel over its summits, was all the same to him! As for me, amused and occupied by the incidents of travel, I had begun to forget the inevitable33 future; but now I was once more destined34 to realize the actual state of affairs. What was to be done? Run away? But if I really had intended to leave Professor Hardwigg to his fate, it should have been at Hamburg and not at the foot of Sneffels.
One idea, above all others, began to trouble me: a very terrible idea, and one calculated to shake the nerves of a man even less sensitive than myself.
"Let us consider the matter," I said to myself; "we are going to ascend35 the Sneffels mountain. Well and good. We are about to pay a visit to the very bottom of the crater. Good, still. Others have done it and did not perish from that course.
"That, however, is not the whole matter to be considered. If a road does really present itself by which to descend36 into the dark and subterraneous bowels of Mother Earth, if this thrice unhappy Saknussemm has really told the truth, we shall be most certainly lost in the midst of the labyrinth37 of subterraneous galleries of the volcano. Now, we have no evidence to prove that Sneffels is really extinct. What proof have we that an eruption38 is not shortly about to take place? Because the monster has slept soundly since 1219, does it follow that he is never to wake?
"If he does wake what is to become of us?"
These were questions worth thinking about, and upon them I reflected long and deeply. I could not lie down in search of sleep without dreaming of eruptions39. The more I thought, the more I objected to be reduced to the state of dross40 and ashes.
I could stand it no longer; so I determined41 at last to submit the whole case to my uncle, in the most adroit42 manner possible, and under the form of some totally irreconcilable43 hypothesis.
I sought him. I laid before him my fears, and then drew back in order to let him get his passion over at his ease.
"I have been thinking about the matter," he said, in the quietest tone in the world.
What did he mean? Was he at last about to listen to the voice of reason? Did he think of suspending his projects? It was almost too much happiness to be true.
I however made no remark. In fact, I was only too anxious not to interrupt him, and allowed him to reflect at his leisure. After some moments he spoke44 out.
"I have been thinking about the matter," he resumed. "Ever since we have been at Stapi, my mind has been almost solely45 occupied with the grave question which has been submitted to me by yourself—for nothing would be unwiser and more inconsistent than to act with imprudence."
"It is now six hundred years since Sneffels has spoken, but though now reduced to a state of utter silence, he may speak again. New volcanic47 eruptions are always preceded by perfectly48 well-known phenomena49. I have closely examined the inhabitants of this region; I have carefully studied the soil, and I beg to tell you emphatically, my dear Harry, there will be no eruption at present."
As I listened to his positive affirmations, I was stupefied and could say nothing.
"I see you doubt my word," said my uncle; "follow me."
I obeyed mechanically.
Leaving the presbytery, the Professor took a road through an opening in the basaltic rock, which led far away from the sea. We were soon in open country, if we could give such a name to a place all covered with volcanic deposits. The whole land seemed crushed under the weight of enormous stones—of trap, of basalt, of granite50, of lava, and of all other volcanic substances.
I could see many spouts51 of steam rising in the air. These white vapors52, called in the Icelandic language "reykir," come from hot water fountains, and indicate by their violence the volcanic activity of the soil. Now the sight of these appeared to justify54 my apprehension55. I was, therefore, all the more surprised and mortified56 when my uncle thus addressed me.
"You see all this smoke, Harry, my boy?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well, as long as you see them thus, you have nothing to fear from the volcano."
"How can that be?"
"Be careful to remember this," continued the Professor. "At the approach of an eruption these spouts of vapor53 redouble their activity—to disappear altogether during the period of volcanic eruption; for the elastic57 fluids, no longer having the necessary tension, seek refuge in the interior of the crater, instead of escaping through the fissures58 of the earth. If, then, the steam remains59 in its normal or habitual60 state, if their energy does not increase, and if you add to this, the remark that the wind is not replaced by heavy atmospheric61 pressure and dead calm, you may be quite sure that there is no fear of any immediate62 eruption."
"But—"
I came back to the house quite downcast and disappointed. My uncle had completely defeated me with his scientific arguments. Nevertheless, I had still one hope, and that was, when once we were at the bottom of the crater, that it would be impossible in default of a gallery or tunnel, to descend any deeper; and this, despite all the learned Saknussemms in the world.
I passed the whole of the following night with a nightmare on my chest! and, after unheard-of miseries64 and tortures, found myself in the very depths of the earth, from which I was suddenly launched into planetary space, under the form of an eruptive rock!
Next day, June 23d, Hans calmly awaited us outside the presbytery with his three companions loaded with provisions, tools, and instruments. Two iron-shod poles, two guns, and two large game bags, were reserved for my uncle and myself. Hans, who was a man who never forgot even the minutest precautions, had added to our baggage a large skin full of water, as an addition to our gourds65. This assured us water for eight days.
It was nine o'clock in the morning when we were quite ready. The rector and his huge wife or servant, I never knew which, stood at the door to see us off. They appeared to be about to inflict66 on us the usual final kiss of the Icelanders. To our supreme67 astonishment68 their adieu took the shape of a formidable bill, in which they even counted the use of the pastoral house, really and truly the most abominable69 and dirty place I ever was in. The worthy couple cheated and robbed us like a Swiss innkeeper, and made us feel, by the sum we had to pay, the splendors of their hospitality.
My uncle, however, paid without bargaining. A man who had made up his mind to undertake a voyage into the Interior of the Earth, is not the man to haggle70 over a few miserable71 rix-dollars.
This important matter settled, Hans gave the signal for departure, and some few moments later we had left Stapi.
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1
lava
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| n.熔岩，火山岩 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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tenements
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| n.房屋，住户，租房子( tenement的名词复数 ) | |
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igneous
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| adj.火的，火绒的 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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plummet
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| vi.(价格、水平等)骤然下跌；n.铅坠；重压物 | |
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artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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8
truncated
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| adj.切去顶端的，缩短了的，被删节的v.截面的( truncate的过去式和过去分词 )；截头的；缩短了的；截去顶端或末端 | |
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cones
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| n.（人眼）圆锥细胞；圆锥体( cone的名词复数 )；球果；圆锥形东西；（盛冰淇淋的）锥形蛋卷筒 | |
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10
regularity
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| n.规律性，规则性；匀称，整齐 | |
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11
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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12
splendors
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| n.华丽( splendor的名词复数 )；壮丽；光辉；显赫 | |
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13
marvels
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| n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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14
vertical
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| adj.垂直的，顶点的，纵向的；n.垂直物，垂直的位置 | |
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15
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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16
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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inadequate
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| adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的 | |
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tithe
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| n.十分之一税；v.课什一税，缴什一税 | |
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sterling
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| adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑) | |
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cardinal
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| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
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virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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crater
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| n.火山口，弹坑 | |
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31
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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bowels
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| n.肠，内脏，内部；肠( bowel的名词复数 )；内部，最深处 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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35
ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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36
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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labyrinth
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| n.迷宫；难解的事物；迷路 | |
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38
eruption
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| n.火山爆发；（战争等）爆发；（疾病等）发作 | |
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eruptions
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| n.喷发，爆发( eruption的名词复数 ) | |
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40
dross
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| n.渣滓；无用之物 | |
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41
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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42
adroit
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| adj.熟练的，灵巧的 | |
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43
irreconcilable
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| adj.（指人）难和解的，势不两立的 | |
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44
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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45
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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46
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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47
volcanic
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| adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的 | |
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48
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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49
phenomena
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| n.现象 | |
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50
granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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51
spouts
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| n.管口( spout的名词复数 )；（喷出的）水柱；（容器的）嘴；在困难中v.（指液体）喷出( spout的第三人称单数 )；滔滔不绝地讲；喋喋不休地说；喷水 | |
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52
vapors
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| n.水汽，水蒸气，无实质之物( vapor的名词复数 )；自夸者；幻想 [药]吸入剂 [古]忧郁（症）v.自夸，（使）蒸发( vapor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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53
vapor
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| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
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54
justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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mortified
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| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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elastic
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| n.橡皮圈，松紧带；adj.有弹性的；灵活的 | |
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fissures
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| n.狭长裂缝或裂隙( fissure的名词复数 )；裂伤；分歧；分裂v.裂开( fissure的第三人称单数 ) | |
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59
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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60
habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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atmospheric
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| adj.大气的，空气的；大气层的；大气所引起的 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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miseries
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| n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 )；痛苦的事；穷困；常发牢骚的人 | |
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gourds
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| n.葫芦( gourd的名词复数 ) | |
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66
inflict
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| vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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abominable
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| adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的 | |
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70
haggle
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| vi.讨价还价，争论不休 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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