I came back to breakfast with an excellent appetite. Hans, our worthy4 guide, thoroughly5 understood how to cook such eatables as we were able to provide; he had both fire and water at discretion6, so that he was enabled slightly to vary the weary monotony of our ordinary repast.
Our morning meal was like a capital English breakfast, with coffee by way of a windup. And never had this delicious beverage7 been so welcome and refreshing8.
My uncle had sufficient regard for my state of health not to interrupt me in the enjoyment9 of the meal, but he was evidently delighted when I had finished.
"Now then," said he, "come with me. It is the height of the tide, and I am anxious to study its curious phenomena10."
"What!"' I cried, rising in astonishment11, "did you say the tide, Uncle?"
"Certainly I did."
"You do not mean to say," I replied, in a tone of respectful doubt, "that the influence of the sun and moon is felt here below."
"And pray why not? Are not all bodies influenced by the law of universal attraction? Why should this vast underground sea be exempt12 from the general law, the rule of the universe? Besides, there is nothing like that which is proved and demonstrated. Despite the great atmospheric13 pressure down here, you will notice that this inland sea rises and falls with as much regularity14 as the Atlantic itself."
As my uncle spoke15, we reached the sandy shore, and saw and heard the waves breaking monotonously16 on the beach. They were evidently rising.
"This is truly the flood," I cried, looking at the water at my feet.
"Yes, my excellent nephew," replied my uncle, rubbing his hands with the gusto of a philosopher, "and you see by these several streaks17 of foam18 that the tide rises at least ten or twelve feet."
"It is indeed marvelous."
"By no means," he responded; "on the contrary, it is quite natural."
"It may appear so in your eyes, my dear uncle," was my reply, "but all the phenomena of the place appear to me to partake of the marvelous. It is almost impossible to believe that which I see. Who in his wildest dreams could have imagined that, beneath the crust of our earth, there could exist a real ocean, with ebbing19 and flowing tides, with its changes of winds, and even its storms! I for one should have laughed the suggestion to scorn."
"But, Harry20, my boy, why not?" inquired my uncle, with a pitying smile; "is there any physical reason in opposition21 to it?"
"Well, if we give up the great theory of the central heat of the earth, I certainly can offer no reasons why anything should be looked upon as impossible."
"Then you will own," he added, "that the system of Sir Humphry Davy is wholly justified22 by what we have seen?"
"I allow that it is—and that point once granted, I certainly can see no reason for doubting the existence of seas and other wonders, even countries, in the interior of the globe."
"Well, I grant that it is more likely than not: still, I do not see why this sea should not have given shelter to some species of unknown fish."
"Hitherto we have not discovered any, and the probabilities are rather against our ever doing so," observed the Professor.
I was losing my skepticism in the presence of these wonders.
"Well, I am determined24 to solve the question. It is my intention to try my luck with my fishing line and hook."
"Certainly; make the experiment," said my uncle, pleased with my enthusiasm. "While we are about it, it will certainly be only proper to discover all the secrets of this extraordinary region."
"But, after all, where are we now?" I asked; "all this time I have quite forgotten to ask you a question, which, doubtless, your philosophical25 instruments have long since answered."
"Well," replied the Professor, "examining the situation from only one point of view, we are now distant three hundred and fifty leagues from Iceland."
"So much?" was my exclamation26.
"I have gone over the matter several times, and am sure not to have made a mistake of five hundred yards," replied my uncle positively27.
"And as to the direction—are we still going to the southeast?"
"Yes, with a western declination[2] of nineteen degrees, forty-two minutes, just as it is above. As for the inclination28[3] I have discovered a very curious fact."
[3] Inclination is the dip of the magnetic needle with a tendency to incline towards the earth.
"What may that be, Uncle? Your information interests me."
"Why, that the needle instead of dipping towards the pole as it does on earth, in the northern hemisphere, has an upward tendency."
"This proves," I cried, "that the great point of magnetic attraction lies somewhere between the surface of the earth and the spot we have succeeded in reaching."
"Exactly, my observant nephew," exclaimed my uncle, elated and delighted, "and it is quite probable that if we succeed in getting toward the polar regions—somewhere near the seventy-third degree of latitude30, where Sir James Ross discovered the magnetic pole, we shall behold31 the needle point directly upward. We have therefore discovered by analogy, that this great centre of attraction is not situated32 at a very great depth."
"Well," said I, rather surprised, "this discovery will astonish experimental philosophers. It was never suspected."
"Science, great, mighty33 and in the end unerring," replied my uncle dogmatically, "science has fallen into many errors—errors which have been fortunate and useful rather than otherwise, for they have been the steppingstones to truth."
After some further discussion, I turned to another matter.
"Have you any idea of the depth we have reached?"
"We are now," continued the Professor, "exactly thirty-five leagues—above a hundred miles—down into the interior of the earth."
"So," said I, after measuring the distance on the map, "we are now beneath the Scottish Highlands, and have over our heads the lofty Grampian Hills."
"You are quite right," said the Professor, laughing; "it sounds very alarming, the weight being heavy—but the vault34 which supports this vast mass of earth and rock is solid and safe; the mighty Architect of the Universe has constructed it of solid materials. Man, even in his highest flights of vivid and poetic35 imagination, never thought of such things! What are the finest arches of our bridges, what the vaulted36 roofs of our cathedrals, to that mighty dome37 above us, and beneath which floats an ocean with its storms and calms and tides!"
"I admire it all as much as you can, Uncle, and have no fear that our granite38 sky will fall upon our heads. But now that we have discussed matters of science and discovery, what are your future intentions? Are you not thinking of getting back to the surface of our beautiful earth?"
This was said more as a feeler than with any hope of success.
"Go back, nephew," cried my uncle in a tone of alarm, "you are not surely thinking of anything so absurd or cowardly. No, my intention is to advance and continue our journey. We have as yet been singularly fortunate, and henceforth I hope we shall be more so."
"But," said I, "how are we to cross yonder liquid plain?"
"It is not my intention to leap into it head foremost, or even to swim across it, like Leander over the Hellespont. But as oceans are, after all, only great lakes, inasmuch as they are surrounded by land, so does it stand to reason, that this central sea is circumscribed39 by granite surroundings."
"Doubtless," was my natural reply.
"Well, then, do you not think that when once we reach the other end, we shall find some means of continuing our journey?"
"Probably, but what extent do you allow to this internal ocean?"
"Well, I should fancy it to extend about forty or fifty leagues—more or less."
"But even supposing this approximation to be a correct one—what then?" I asked.
I looked around with surprise and incredulity. I could see nothing in the shape of boat or vessel41.
"What!" I cried, "we are about to launch out upon an unknown sea; and where, if I may ask, is the vessel to carry us?"
"Well, my dear boy, it will not be exactly what you would call a vessel. For the present we must be content with a good and solid raft."
"A raft," I cried, incredulously, "but down here a raft is as impossible of construction as a vessel—and I am at a loss to imagine—"
"My good Harry—if you were to listen instead of talking so much, you would hear," said my uncle, waxing a little impatient.
"I should hear?"
"Yes—certain knocks with the hammer, which Hans is now employing to make the raft. He has been at work for many hours."
"Making a raft?"
"Yes."
"But where has he found trees suitable for such a construction?"
"He found the trees all ready to his hand. Come, and you shall see our excellent guide at work."
More and more amazed at what I heard and saw, I followed my uncle like one in a dream.
After a walk of about a quarter of an hour, I saw Hans at work on the other side of the promontory42 which formed our natural port. A few minutes more and I was beside him. To my great surprise, on the sandy shore lay a half-finished raft. It was made from beams of a very peculiar43 wood, and a great number of limbs, joints44, boughs45, and pieces lay about, sufficient to have constructed a fleet of ships and boats.
"Where did all this wood come from?" I cried; "what wood is it?"
"Well, there is pinewood, fir, and the palms of the northern regions, mineralized by the action of the sea," he replied, sententiously.
"Can it be possible?"
"Yes," said the learned Professor, "what you see is called fossil wood."
"But then," cried I, after reflecting for a moment, "like the lignites, it must be as hard and as heavy as iron, and therefore will certainly not float."
"Sometimes that is the case. Many of these woods have become true anthracites, but others again, like those you see before you, have only undergone one phase of fossil transformation47. But there is no proof like demonstration," added my uncle, picking one or two of these precious waifs and casting them into the sea.
The piece of wood, after having disappeared for a moment, came to the surface, and floated about with the oscillation produced by wind and tide.
"Are you convinced?" said my uncle, with a self-satisfied smile.
"I am convinced," I cried, "that what I see is incredible."
The fact was that my journey into the interior of the earth was rapidly changing all preconceived notions, and day by day preparing me for the marvelous.
I should not have been surprised to have seen a fleet of native canoes afloat upon that silent sea.
The very next evening, thanks to the industry and ability of Hans, the raft was finished. It was about ten feet long and five feet wide. The beams bound together with stout48 ropes, were solid and firm, and once launched by our united efforts, the improvised49 vessel floated tranquilly50 upon the waters of what the Professor had well named the Central Sea.
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1
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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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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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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7
beverage
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| n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料 | |
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8
refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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9
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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phenomena
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| n.现象 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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exempt
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| adj.免除的；v.使免除；n.免税者，被免除义务者 | |
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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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regularity
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| n.规律性，规则性；匀称，整齐 | |
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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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monotonously
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| adv.单调地，无变化地 | |
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streaks
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| n.（与周围有所不同的）条纹( streak的名词复数 )；（通常指不好的）特征（倾向）；（不断经历成功或失败的）一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 )；使布满条纹 | |
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foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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ebbing
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| （指潮水）退( ebb的现在分词 )； 落； 减少； 衰落 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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philosophical
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| adj.哲学家的，哲学上的，达观的 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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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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meridian
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| adj.子午线的；全盛期的 | |
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latitude
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| n.纬度，行动或言论的自由(范围)，(pl.)地区 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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poetic
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| adj.富有诗意的，有诗人气质的，善于抒情的 | |
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vaulted
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| adj.拱状的 | |
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dome
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| n.圆屋顶，拱顶 | |
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granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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circumscribed
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| adj.[医]局限的：受限制或限于有限空间的v.在…周围划线( circumscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；划定…范围；限制；限定 | |
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40
embark
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| vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机 | |
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41
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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42
promontory
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| n.海角；岬 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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44
joints
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| 接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语） | |
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45
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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46
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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transformation
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| n.变化；改造；转变 | |
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49
improvised
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| a.即席而作的,即兴的 | |
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50
tranquilly
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| adv. 宁静地 | |
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