Nevertheless, it has seldom happened to me to sleep so well as I did on that particular night. I did not even dream. So much for the effects of what my uncle called "wholesome2 fatigue3."
Next day, when we awoke under the rays of a bright and glorious sun, we were nearly frozen by the keen air. I left my granite4 couch and made one of the party to enjoy a view of the magnificent spectacle which developed itself, panorama-like, at our feet.
I stood upon the lofty summit of Mount Sneffels' southern peak. Thence I was able to obtain a view of the greater part of the island. The optical delusion5, common to all lofty heights, raised the shores of the island, while the central portions appeared depressed6. It was by no means too great a flight of fancy to believe that a giant picture was stretched out before me. I could see the deep valleys that crossed each other in every direction. I could see precipices7 looking like sides of wells, lakes that seemed to be changed into ponds, ponds that looked like puddles8, and rivers that were transformed into petty brooks9. To my right were glaciers10 upon glaciers, and multiplied peaks, topped with light clouds of smoke.
The undulation of these infinite numbers of mountains, whose snowy summits make them look as if covered by foam11, recalled to my remembrance the surface of a storm-beaten ocean. If I looked towards the west, the ocean lay before me in all its majestic12 grandeur13, a continuation as it were, of these fleecy hilltops.
Where the earth ended and the sea began it was impossible for the eye to distinguish.
I soon felt that strange and mysterious sensation which is awakened14 in the mind when looking down from lofty hilltops, and now I was able to do so without any feeling of nervousness, having fortunately hardened myself to that kind of sublime15 contemplation.
I wholly forgot who I was, and where I was. I became intoxicated16 with a sense of lofty sublimity17, without thought of the abysses into which my daring was soon about to plunge18 me. I was presently, however, brought back to the realities of life by the arrival of the Professor and Hans, who joined me upon the lofty summit of the peak.
My uncle, turning in a westerly direction, pointed19 out to me a light cloud of vapor20, a kind of haze21, with a faint outline of land rising out of the waters.
"Greenland!" said he.
"Greenland?" cried I in reply.
"Yes," continued my uncle, who always when explaining anything spoke22 as if he were in a professor's chair; "we are not more than thirty-five leagues distant from that wonderful land. When the great annual breakup of the ice takes place, white bears come over to Iceland, carried by the floating masses of ice from the north. This, however, is a matter of little consequence. We are now on the summit of the great, the transcendent Sneffels, and here are its two peaks, north and south. Hans will tell you the name by which the people of Iceland call that on which we stand."
My uncle turned to the imperturbable23 guide, who nodded, and spoke as usual—one word.
"Scartaris."
My uncle looked at me with a proud and triumphant24 glance.
"A crater," he said, "you hear?"
I did hear, but I was totally unable to make reply.
The crater of Mount Sneffels represented an inverted25 cone26, the gaping27 orifice apparently28 half a mile across; the depth indefinite feet. Conceive what this hole must have been like when full of flame and thunder and lightning. The bottom of the funnel-shaped hollow was about five hundred feet in circumference29, by which it will be seen that the slope from the summit to the bottom was very gradual, and we were therefore clearly able to get there without much fatigue or difficulty. Involuntarily, I compared this crater to an enormous loaded cannon30; and the comparison completely terrified me.
"To descend31 into the interior of a cannon," I thought to myself, "when perhaps it is loaded, and will go off at the least shock, is the act of a madman."
But there was no longer any opportunity for me to hesitate. Hans, with a perfectly32 calm and indifferent air, took his usual post at the head of the adventurous33 little band. I followed without uttering a syllable34.
In order to render the descent less difficult, Hans took his way down the interior of the cone in rather a zigzag36 fashion, making, as the sailors say, long tracks to the eastward37, followed by equally long ones to the west. It was necessary to walk through the midst of eruptive rocks, some of which, shaken in their balance, went rolling down with thundering clamor to the bottom of the abyss. These continual falls awoke echoes of singular power and effect.
Many portions of the cone consisted of inferior glaciers. Hans, whenever he met with one of these obstacles, advanced with a great show of precaution, sounding the soil with his long iron pole in order to discover fissures38 and layers of deep soft snow. In many doubtful or dangerous places, it became necessary for us to be tied together by a long rope in order that should any one of us be unfortunate enough to slip, he would be supported by his companions. This connecting link was doubtless a prudent39 precaution, but not by any means unattended with danger.
Nevertheless, and despite all the manifold difficulties of the descent, along slopes with which our guide was wholly unacquainted, we made considerable progress without accident. One of our great parcels of rope slipped from one of the Iceland porters, and rushed by a short cut to the bottom of the abyss.
By midday we were at the end of our journey. I looked upwards40, and saw only the upper orifice of the cone, which served as a circular frame to a very small portion of the sky—a portion which seemed to me singularly beautiful. Should I ever again gaze on that lovely sunlit sky!
The only exception to this extraordinary landscape, was the Peak of Scartaris, which seemed lost in the great void of the heavens.
The bottom of the crater was composed of three separate shafts41, through which, during periods of eruption42, when Sneffels was in action, the great central furnace sent forth43 its burning lava44 and poisonous vapors45. Each of these chimneys or shafts gaped46 open-mouthed in our path. I kept as far away from them as possible, not even venturing to take the faintest peep downwards47.
As for the Professor, after a rapid examination of their disposition48 and characteristics, he became breathless and panting. He ran from one to the other like a delighted schoolboy, gesticulating wildly, and uttering incomprehensible and disjointed phrases in all sorts of languages.
Hans, the guide, and his humbler companions seated themselves on some piles of lava and looked silently on. They clearly took my uncle for a lunatic; and—waited the result.
Suddenly the Professor uttered a wild, unearthly cry. At first I imagined he had lost his footing, and was falling headlong into one of the yawning gulfs. Nothing of the kind. I saw him, his arms spread out to their widest extent, his legs stretched apart, standing49 upright before an enormous pedestal, high enough and black enough to bear a gigantic statue of Pluto50. His attitude and mien51 were that of a man utterly52 stupefied. But his stupefaction was speedily changed to the wildest joy.
Unable to understand what he meant, I turned to obey his commands. Neither Hans nor the other Icelanders moved a step.
"Look!" said the Professor, in something of the manner of the French general, pointing out the pyramids to his army.
And fully54 partaking his stupefaction, if not his joy, I read on the eastern side of the huge block of stone, the same characters, half eaten away by the corrosive55 action of time, the name, to me a thousand times accursed—
"Arne Saknussemm!" cried my uncle, "now, unbeliever, do you begin to have faith?"
It was totally impossible for me to answer a single word. I went back to my pile of lava, in a state of silent awe56. The evidence was unanswerable, overwhelming!
In a few moments, however, my thoughts were far away, back in my German home, with Gretchen and the old cook. What would I have given for one of my cousin's smiles, for one of the ancient domestic's omelettes, and for my own feather bed!
How long I remained in this state I know not. All I can say is, that when at last I raised my head from between my hands, there remained at the bottom of the crater only myself, my uncle and Hans. The Icelandic porters had been dismissed and were now descending57 the exterior58 slopes of Mount Sneffels, on their way to Stapi. How heartily59 did I wish myself with them!
Hans slept tranquilly60 at the foot of a rock in a kind of rill of lava, where he had made himself a rough and ready bed. MY uncle was walking about the bottom of the crater like a wild beast in a cage. I had no desire, neither had I the strength, to move from my recumbent position. Taking example by the guide, I gave way to a kind of painful somnolency61, during which I seemed both to hear and feel continued heavings and shudderings in the mountain.
In this way we passed our first night in the interior of a crater.
Next morning, a grey, cloudy, heavy sky hung like a funereal62 pall63 over the summit of the volcanic64 cone. I did not notice it so much from the obscurity that reigned65 around us, as from the rage with which my uncle was devoured66.
I fully understood the reason, and again a glimpse of hope made my heart leap with joy. I will briefly67 explain the cause.
Of the three openings which yawned beneath our steps, only one could have been followed by the adventurous Saknussemm. According to the words of the learned Icelander, it was only to be known by that one particular mentioned in the cryptograph, that the shadow of Scartaris fell upon it, just touching68 its mouth in the last days of the month of June.
We were, in fact, to consider the pointed peak as the stylus of an immense sun-dial, the shadow of which pointed on one given day, like the inexorable finger of fate, to the yawning chasm69 which led into the interior of the earth.
Now, as often happens in these regions, should the sun fail to burst through the clouds, no shadow. Consequently, no chance of discovering the right aperture70. We had already reached the 25th June. If the kindly71 heavens would only remain densely72 clouded for six more days, we should have to put off our voyage of discovery for another year, when certainly there would be one person fewer in the party. I already had sufficient of the mad and monstrous73 enterprise.
It would be utterly impossible to depict74 the impotent rage of Professor Hardwigg. The day passed away, and not the faintest outline of a shadow could be seen at the bottom of the crater. Hans the guide never moved from his place. He must have been curious to know what we were about, if indeed he could believe we were about anything. As for my uncle, he never addressed a word to me. He was nursing his wrath75 to keep it warm! His eyes fixed76 on the black and foggy atmosphere, his complexion77 hideous78 with suppressed passion. Never had his eyes appeared so fierce, his nose so aquiline79, his mouth so hard and firm.
On the 26th no change for the better. A mixture of rain and snow fell during the whole day. Hans very quietly built himself a hut of lava into which he retired80 like Diogenes into his tub. I took a malicious81 delight in watching the thousand little cascades82 that flowed down the side of the cone, carrying with them at times a stream of stones into the "vasty deep" below.
My uncle was almost frantic83: to be sure, it was enough to make even a patient man angry. He had reached to a certain extent the goal of his desires, and yet he was likely to be wrecked84 in port.
But if the heavens and the elements are capable of causing us much pain and sorrow, there are two sides to a medal. And there was reserved for Professor Hardwigg a brilliant and sudden surprise which was to compensate85 him for all his sufferings.
Next day the sky was still overcast86, but on Sunday, the 28th, the last day but two of the month, with a sudden change of wind and a new moon there came a change of weather. The sun poured its beaming rays to the very bottom of the crater.
Each hillock, every rock, every stone, every asperity87 of the soil had its share of the luminous88 effulgence89, and its shadow fell heavily on the soil. Among others, to his insane delight, the shadow of Scartaris was marked and clear, and moved slowly with the radiant start of day.
At twelve o'clock exactly, when the sun had attained91 its highest altitude for the day, the shadow fell upon the edge of the central pit!
"Here it is," gasped92 the Professor in an agony of joy, "here it is—we have found it. Forward, my friends, into the Interior of the Earth."
"Forut," said the guide tranquilly.
"Forward it is," answered my uncle, who was now in the seventh heaven of delight.
When we were quite ready, our watches indicated thirteen minutes past one!
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1
crater
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| n.火山口，弹坑 | |
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wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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delusion
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| n.谬见，欺骗，幻觉，迷惑 | |
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depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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precipices
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| n.悬崖，峭壁( precipice的名词复数 ) | |
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puddles
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| n.水坑， （尤指道路上的）雨水坑( puddle的名词复数 ) | |
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brooks
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| n.小溪( brook的名词复数 ) | |
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glaciers
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| 冰河，冰川( glacier的名词复数 ) | |
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11
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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sublimity
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| 崇高，庄严，气质高尚 | |
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18
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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vapor
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| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
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haze
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| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
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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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imperturbable
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| adj.镇静的 | |
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triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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inverted
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| adj.反向的，倒转的v.使倒置，使反转( invert的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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cone
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| n.圆锥体，圆锥形东西，球果 | |
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gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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circumference
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| n.圆周，周长，圆周线 | |
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cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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syllable
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| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
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slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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zigzag
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| n.曲折，之字形；adj.曲折的，锯齿形的；adv.曲折地，成锯齿形地；vt.使曲折；vi.曲折前行 | |
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eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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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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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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shafts
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| n.轴( shaft的名词复数 )；（箭、高尔夫球棒等的）杆；通风井；一阵（疼痛、害怕等） | |
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eruption
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| n.火山爆发；（战争等）爆发；（疾病等）发作 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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lava
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| n.熔岩，火山岩 | |
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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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gaped
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| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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downwards
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| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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Pluto
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| n.冥王星 | |
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51
mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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corrosive
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| adj.腐蚀性的；有害的；恶毒的 | |
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awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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exterior
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| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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tranquilly
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| adv. 宁静地 | |
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somnolency
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| n.想睡，梦幻 | |
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funereal
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| adj.悲哀的；送葬的 | |
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pall
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| v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕 | |
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volcanic
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| adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的 | |
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reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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chasm
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| n.深坑，断层，裂口，大分岐，利害冲突 | |
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aperture
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| n.孔，隙，窄的缺口 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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densely
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| ad.密集地；浓厚地 | |
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monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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depict
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| vt.描画，描绘；描写，描述 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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aquiline
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| adj.钩状的，鹰的 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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82
cascades
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| 倾泻( cascade的名词复数 )； 小瀑布（尤指一连串瀑布中的一支）； 瀑布状物； 倾泻（或涌出）的东西 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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compensate
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| vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消 | |
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86
overcast
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| adj.阴天的，阴暗的，愁闷的；v.遮盖，（使）变暗，包边缝；n.覆盖，阴天 | |
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asperity
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| n.粗鲁，艰苦 | |
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luminous
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| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
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effulgence
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| n.光辉 | |
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ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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91
attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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