Myhorrormaybeconceived。Iresolvedhowevertoshownofear。
Scientificreasonsweretheonlyoneslikelytoinfluencemyuncle。
Now，thereweremanyagainstthisterriblejourney。Theveryideaofgoingdowntothecenteroftheearthwassimplyabsurd。I
determinedthereforetoarguethepointafterdinner。
Myuncle'sragewasnowdirectedagainstthecookforhavingnodinnerready。Myexplanationhoweversatisfiedhim，andhavinggottenthekey，shesooncontrivedtogetsufficienttosatisfyourvoraciousappetites。
Duringtherepastmyunclewasrathergaythanotherwise。Hemadesomeofthosepeculiarjokeswhichbelongexclusivelytothelearned。Assoon，however，asdessertwasover，hecalledmetohisstudy。Weeachtookachaironoppositesidesofthetable。
"Henry，"hesaid，inasoftandwinningvoice；"Ihavealwaysbelievedyouingenious，andyouhaverenderedmeaservicenevertobeforgotten。Withoutyou，thisgreat，thiswondrousdiscoverywouldneverhavebeenmade。Itismyduty，therefore，toinsistonyoursharingtheglory。"
"Heisinagoodhumor，"thoughtI；"I'llsoonlethimknowmyopinionofglory。"
"Inthefirstplace，"hecontinued，"youmustkeepthewholeaffairaprofoundsecret。Thereisnomoreenviousraceofmenthanscientificdiscoverers。Manywouldstartonthesamejourney。Atallevents，wewillbethefirstinthefield。"
"Idoubtyourhavingmanycompetitors，"wasmyreply。
"Amanofrealscientificacquirementswouldbedelightedatthechance。WeshouldfindaperfectstreamofpilgrimsonthetracesofArneSaknussemm，ifthisdocumentwereoncemadepublic。"
"But，mydearsir，isnotthispaperverylikelytobeahoax?"I
urged。
"Thebookinwhichwefinditissufficientproofofitsauthenticity，"hereplied。
"IthoroughlyallowthatthecelebratedProfessorwrotethelines，butonly，Ibelieve，asakindofmystification，"wasmyanswer。
Scarcelywerethewordsoutofmymouth，whenIwassorryIhadutteredthem。Myunclelookedatmewithadarkandgloomyscowl，andIbegantobealarmedfortheresultsofourconversation。Hismoodsoonchanged，however，andasmiletooktheplaceofafrown。
"Weshallsee，"heremarked，withdecisiveemphasis。
"Butsee，whatisallthisaboutYocul，andSneffels，andthisScartaris?Ihaveneverheardanythingaboutthem。"
"TheverypointtowhichIamcoming。IlatelyreceivedfrommyfriendAugustusPeterman，ofLeipzig，amap。Takedownthethirdatlasfromthesecondshelf，seriesZ，plate4。"
Irose，wenttotheshelf，andpresentlyreturnedwiththevolumeindicated。
"This，"saidmyuncle，"isoneofthebestmapsofIceland。I
believeitwillsettleallyourdoubts，difficultiesandobjections。"
Withagrimhopetothecontrary，Istoopedoverthemap。
CHAPTER4
WeStartontheJourneyYOUsee，thewholeislandiscomposedofvolcanoes，"saidtheProfessor，"andremarkcarefullythattheyallbearthenameofYocul。
ThewordisIcelandic，andmeansaglacier。Inmostoftheloftymountainsofthatregionthevolcaniceruptionscomeforthfromiceboundcaverns。Hencethenameappliedtoeveryvolcanoonthisextraordinaryisland。"
"ButwhatdoesthiswordSneffelsmean?"
TothisquestionIexpectednorationalanswer。Iwasmistaken。
"FollowmyfingertothewesterncoastofIceland，thereyouseeReykjavik，itscapital。Followthedirectionofoneofitsinnumerablefjordsorarmsofthesea，andwhatdoyouseebelowthesixty-fifthdegreeoflatitude?"
"Apeninsula-verylikeathighboneinshape。
"Andinthecenterofit-?"
"Amountain。"
"Well，"that'sSneffels。"
Ihadnothingtosay。
"ThatisSneffels-amountainaboutfivethousandfeetinheight，oneofthemostremarkableinthewholeisland，andcertainlydoomedtobethemostcelebratedintheworld，forthroughitscraterweshallreachthecenteroftheearth。"
"Impossible!"criedI，startledandshockedatthethought。
"Whyimpossible?"saidProfessorHardwigginhisseveresttones。
"Becauseitscraterischokedwithlava，byburningrocks-byinfinitedangers。"
"Butifitbeextinct?"
"Thatwouldmakeadifference。"
"Ofcourseitwould。Thereareaboutthreehundredvolcanoesonthewholesurfaceoftheglobe-butthegreaternumberareextinct。OftheseSneffelsisone。Noeruptionhasoccurredsince1219-infactithasceasedtobeavolcanoatall。"
AfterthiswhatmorecouldIsay?Yes，-Ithoughtofanotherobjection。
"ButwhatisallthisaboutScartarisandthekalendsofJuly-?"
Myunclereflecteddeeply。Presentlyhegaveforththeresultofhisreflectionsinasententioustone。"Whatappearsobscuretoyou，tomeislight。ThisveryphraseshowshowparticularSaknussemmisinhisdirections。TheSneffelsmountainhasmanycraters。HeiscarefulthereforetopointtheexactonewhichisthehighwayintotheInterioroftheEarth。Heletsusknow，forthispurpose，thatabouttheendofthemonthofJune，theshadowofMountScartarisfallsupontheonecrater。Therecanbenodoubtaboutthematter。"
Myunclehadananswerforeverything。
"Iacceptallyourexplanations"'Isaid"andSaknussemmisright。
Hefoundouttheentrancetothebowelsoftheearth，hehasindicatedcorrectly，butthatheoranyoneelseeverfollowedupthediscoveryismadnesstosuppose。"
"Whyso，youngman?"
"Allscientificteaching，theoreticalandpractical，showsittobeimpossible。"
"Icarenothingfortheories，"retortedmyuncle。
"Butisitnotwell-knownthatheatincreasesonedegreeforeveryseventyfeetyoudescendintotheearth?Whichgivesafineideaofthecentralheat。Allthematterswhichcomposetheglobeareinastateofincandescence；evengold，platinum，andthehardestrocksareinastateoffusion。Whatwouldbecomeofus?"
"Don'tbealarmedattheheat，myboy。"
"Howso?"
"Neitheryounoranybodyelseknowanythingabouttherealstateoftheearth'sinterior。Allmodernexperimentstendtoexplodetheoldertheories。Wereanysuchheattoexist，theuppercrustoftheearthwouldbeshatteredtoatoms，andtheworldwouldbeatanend。"
Along，learnedandnotuninterestingdiscussionfollowed，whichendedinthiswise:
"Idonotbelieveinthedangersanddifficultieswhichyou，Henry，seemtomultiply；andtheonlywaytolearn，islikeArneSaknussemm，togoandsee。"
"Well，"criedI，overcomeatlast，"letusgoandsee。Thoughhowwecandothatinthedarkisanothermystery。"
"Fearnothing。Weshallovercomethese，andmanyotherdifficulties。
Besides，asweapproachthecenter，Iexpecttofinditluminous-"
"Nothingisimpossible。"
"Andnowthatwehavecometoathoroughunderstanding，notawordtoanylivingsoul。Oursuccessdependsonsecrecyanddispatch。"
Thusendedourmemorableconference，whichrousedaperfectfeverinme。Leavingmyuncle，Iwentforthlikeonepossessed。ReachingthebanksoftheElbe，Ibegantothink。WasallIhadheardreallyandtrulypossible?Wasmyuncleinhissobersenses，andcouldtheinterioroftheearthbereached?WasIthevictimofamadman，orwasheadiscovererofrarecourageandgrandeurofconception?
ToacertainextentIwasanxioustobeoff。Iwasafraidmyenthusiasmwouldcool。Ideterminedtopackupatonce。Attheendofanhour，however，onmywayhome，Ifoundthatmyfeelingshadverymuchchanged。
"I'mallabroad，"Icried；"'tisanightmare-Imusthavedreamedit。"
AtthismomentIcamefacetofacewithGretchen，whomIwarmlyembraced。
"Soyouhavecometomeetme，"shesaid；"howgoodofyou。Butwhatisthematter?"
Well，itwasnousemincingthematter，Itoldherall。Shelistenedwithawe，andforsomeminutesshecouldnotspeak。
"Well?"Iatlastsaid，ratheranxiously。
"Whatamagnificentjourney。IfIwereonlyaman!AjourneyworthyofthenephewofProfessorHardwigg。Ishouldlookuponitasanhonortoaccompanyhim。"
"MydearGretchen，Ithoughtyouwouldbethefirsttocryoutagainstthismadenterprise。"
"No；onthecontrary，Igloryinit。Itismagnificent，splendid-anideaworthyofmyfather。HenryLawson，Ienvyyou。"
Thiswas，asitwere，conclusive。Thefinalblowofall。
Whenweenteredthehousewefoundmyunclesurroundedbyworkmenandporters，whowerepackingup。Hewaspullingandhaulingatabell。
"Wherehaveyoubeenwastingyourtime?Yourportmanteauisnotpacked-mypapersarenotinorder-theprecioustailorhasnotbroughtmyclothes，normygaiters-thekeyofmycarpetbagisgone!"
Ilookedathimstupefied。Andstillhetuggedawayatthebell。
"Wearereallyoff，then?"Isaid。
"Yes-ofcourse，andyetyougooutforastroll，unfortunateboy!"
"Andwhendowego?
"Thedayaftertomorrow，atdaybreak。"
Iheardnomore；butdartedofftomylittlebedchamberandlockedmyselfin。Therewasnodoubtaboutitnow。Myunclehadbeenhardatworkalltheafternoon。Thegardenwasfullofropes，ropeladders，torches，gourds，ironclamps，crowbars，alpenstocks，andpickaxes-
enoughtoloadtenmen。
Ipassedaterriblenight。Iwascalledearlythenextdaytolearnthattheresolutionofmyunclewasunchangedandirrevocable。I
alsofoundmycousinandaffiancedwifeaswarmonthesubjectaswasherfather。
Nextday，atfiveo'clockinthemorning，thepostchaisewasatthedoor。Gretchenandtheoldcookreceivedthekeysofthehouse；and，scarcelypausingtowishanyonegood-by，westartedonouradventurousjourneyintothecenteroftheearth。
CHAPTER5
FirstLessonsinClimbingATAltona，asuburbofHamburg，istheChiefStationoftheKielrailway，whichwastotakeustotheshoresoftheBelt。IntwentyminutesfromthemomentofourdeparturewewereinHolstein，andourcarriageenteredthestation。Ourheavyluggagewastakenout，weighed，labeled，andplacedinahugevan。Wethentookourtickets，andexactlyatseveno'clockwereseatedoppositeeachotherinafirstclassrailwaycarriage。
Myunclesaidnothing。Hewastoobusyexamininghispapers，amongwhichofcoursewasthefamousparchment，andsomelettersofintroductionfromtheDanishconsulwhichweretopavethewaytoanintroductiontotheGovernorofIceland。Myonlyamusementwaslookingoutofthewindow。Butaswepassedthroughaflatthoughfertilecountry，thisoccupationwasslightlymonotonous。InthreehourswereachedKiel，andourbaggagewasatoncetransferredtothesteamer。
Wehadnowadaybeforeus，adelayofabouttenhours。Whichfactputmyuncleinatoweringpassion。Wehadnothingtodobuttowalkabouttheprettytownandbay。Atlength，however，wewentonboard，andathalfpasttenweresteamingdowntheGreatBelt。Itwasadarknight，withastrongbreezeandaroughsea，nothingbeingvisiblebuttheoccasionalfiresonshore，withhereandtherealighthouse。AtseveninthemorningweleftKorsor，alittletownonthewesternsideofSeeland。
Herewetookanotherrailway，whichinthreehoursbroughtustothecapital，Copenhagen，where，scarcelytakingtimeforrefreshment，myunclehurriedouttopresentoneofhislettersofintroduction。ItwastothedirectoroftheMuseumofAntiquities，who，havingbeeninformedthatweweretouristsboundforIceland，didallhecouldtoassistus。Onewretchedhopesustainedmenow。Perhapsnovesselwasboundforsuchdistantparts。
Alas!alittleDanishschooner，theValkyrie，wastosailonthesecondofJuneforReykjavik。Thecaptain，M。Bjarne，wasonboard，andwasrathersurprisedattheenergyandcordialitywithwhichhisfuturepassengershookhimbythehand。TohimavoyagetoIcelandwasmerelyamatterofcourse。Myuncle，ontheotherhand，consideredtheeventofsublimeimportance。ThehonestsailortookadvantageoftheProfessor'senthusiasmtodoublethefare。
"OnTuesdaymorningatseveno'clockbeonboard，"saidM。Bjarne，handingusourreceipts。
"Excellent!Capital!Glorious!"remarkedmyuncleaswesatdowntoalatebreakfast；"refreshyourself，myboy，andwewilltakearunthroughthetown。"
Ourmealconcluded，wewenttotheKongens-Nye-Torw；totheking'smagnificentpalace；tothebeautifulbridgeoverthecanalneartheMuseum；totheimmensecenotaphofThorwaldsenwithitshideousnavalgroups；tothecastleofRosenberg；andtoalltheotherlionsoftheplace-noneofwhichmyuncleevensaw，soabsorbedwasheinhisanticipatedtriumphs。
Butonethingstruckhisfancy，andthatwasacertainsingularsteeplesituatedontheIslandofAmak，whichisthesoutheastquarterofthecityofCopenhagen。Myuncleatonceorderedmetoturnmystepsthatway，andaccordinglywewentonboardthesteamferryboatwhichdoesdutyonthecanal，andverysoonreachedthenoteddockyardquay。
Inthefirstinstancewecrossedsomenarrowstreets，wherewemetnumerousgroupsofgalleyslaves，withparticoloredtrousers，greyandyellow，workingundertheordersandthesticksofseveretaskmasters，andfinallyreachedtheVor-Frelser's-Kirk。
Thischurchexhibitednothingremarkableinitself；infact，theworthyProfessorhadonlybeenattractedtoitbyonecircumstance，whichwas，thatitsratherelevatedsteeplestartedfromacircularplatform，afterwhichtherewasanexteriorstaircase，whichwoundroundtotheverysummit。
"Letusascend，"saidmyuncle。
"ButInevercouldclimbchurchtowers，"Icried，"Iamsubjecttodizzinessinmyhead。"
"Theveryreasonwhyyoushouldgoup。Iwanttocureyouofabadhabit。"
"But，mygoodsir-"
"Itellyoutocome。Whatistheuseofwastingsomuchvaluabletime?"
Itwasimpossibletodisputethedictatorialcommandsofmyuncle。I
yieldedwithagroan。Onpaymentofafee，avergergaveusthekey。
He，forone，wasnotpartialtotheascent。Myuncleatonceshowedmetheway，runningupthestepslikeaschoolboy。IfollowedaswellasIcould，thoughnosoonerwasIoutsidethetower，thanmyheadbegantoswim。Therewasnothingoftheeagleaboutme。Theearthwasenoughforme，andnoambitiousdesiretosoareverenteredmymind。StillthingsdidnotgobadlyuntilIhadascended150steps，andwasneartheplatform，whenIbegantofeeltherushofcoldair。Icouldscarcelystand，whenclutchingtherailings，Ilookedupwards。Therailingwasfrailenough，butnothingtothosewhichskirtedtheterriblewindingstaircase，thatappeared，fromwhereI
stood，toascendtotheskies。
"Nowthen，Henry。"
"Ican'tdoit!"Icried，inaccentsofdespair。
"Areyou，afterall，acoward，sir?"saidmyuncleinapitilesstone。"Goup，Isay!"
Tothistherewasnoreplypossible。Andyetthekeenairactedviolentlyonmynervoussystem；sky，earth，allseemedtoswimround，whilethesteeplerockedlikeaship。Mylegsgavewaylikethoseofadrunkenman。Icrawleduponmyhandsandknees；Ihauledmyselfupslowly，crawlinglikeasnake。PresentlyIclosedmyeyes，andallowedmyselftobedraggedupwards。
"Lookaroundyou，"saidmyuncleinasternvoice，"heavenknowswhatprofoundabyssesyoumayhavetolookdown。Thisisexcellentpractice。"
Slowly，andshiveringallthewhilewithcold，Iopenedmyeyes。
WhatthendidIsee?Myfirstglancewasupwardsatthecoldfleecyclouds，whichasbysomeopticaldelusionappearedtostandstill，whilethesteeple，theweathercock，andourtwoselveswerecarriedswiftlyalong。Farawayononesidecouldbeseenthegrassyplain，whileontheotherlaytheseabathedintranslucentlight。TheSund，orSoundaswecallit，couldbediscoveredbeyondthepointofElsinore，crowdedwithwhitesails，which，atthatdistancelookedlikethewingsofseagulls；whiletotheeastcouldbemadeoutthefar-offcoastofSweden。Thewholeappearedamagicpanorama。
ButfaintandbewilderedasIwas，therewasnoremedyforit。
RiseandstandupImust。Despitemyprotestationsmyfirstlessonlastedquiteanhour。When，nearlytwohourslater，Ireachedthebosomofmotherearth，Iwaslikearheumaticoldmanbentdoublewithpain。
"Enoughforoneday，"saidmyuncle，rubbinghishands，"wewillbeginagaintomorrow。"
Therewasnoremedy。Mylessonslastedfivedays，andattheendofthatperiod，Iascendedblithelyenough，andfoundmyselfabletolookdownintothedepthsbelowwithoutevenwinking，andwithsomedegreeofpleasure。
CHAPTER6
OurVoyagetoIcelandTHEhourofdeparturecameatlast。Thenightbefore，theworthyMr。
ThompsonbroughtusthemostcordiallettersofintroductionforBaronTrampe，GovernorofIceland，forM。Pictursson，coadjutortothebishop，andforM。Finsen，mayorofthetownofReykjavik。Inreturn，myunclenearlycrushedhishands，sowarmlydidheshakethem。
Onthesecondofthemonth，attwointhemorning，ourpreciouscargoofluggagewastakenonboardthegoodshipValkyrie。Wefollowed，andwereverypolitelyintroducedbythecaptaintoasmallcabinwithtwostandingbedplaces，neitherverywellventilatednorverycomfortable。Butinthecauseofsciencemenareexpectedtosuffer。
"Well，"andhaveweafairwind?"criedmyuncle，inhismostmellifluousaccents。
"Anexcellentwind!"repliedCaptainBjarne；"weshallleavetheSound，goingfreewithallsailsset。"
Afewminutesafterwards，theschoonerstartedbeforethewind，underallthecanvasshecouldcarry，andenteredthechannel。Anhourlater，thecapitalofDenmarkseemedtosinkintothewaves，andwewereatnogreatdistancefromthecoastofElsinore。Myunclewasdelighted；formyself，moodyanddissatisfied，IappearedalmosttoexpectaglimpseoftheghostofHamlet。
"SublimemadmanthoughtI，"youdoubtlesswouldapproveourproceedings。Youmightperhapsevenfollowustothecenteroftheearth，theretoresolveyoureternaldoubts。"
Butnoghostoranythingelseappearedupontheancientwalls。Thefactis，thecastleismuchlaterthanthetimeoftheheroicprinceofDenmark。ItisnowtheresidenceofthekeeperoftheStraitoftheSound，andthroughthatSoundmorethanfifteenthousandvesselsofallnationspasseveryyear。
ThecastleofKronborgsoondisappearedinthemurkyatmosphere，aswellasthetowerofHelsinborg，whichraisesitsheadontheSwedishBank。AndheretheschoonerbegantofeelinearnestthebreezesoftheKattegat。TheValkyriewasswiftenough，butwithallsailingboatsthereisthesameuncertainty。Hercargowascoal，furniture，pottery，woolenclothing，andaloadofcorn。Asusual，thecrewwassmall，fiveDanesdoingthewholeofthework。
"Howlongwillthevoyagelast?"askedmyuncle。
"Well，"Ishouldthinkabouttendays，"repliedtheskipper，"unless，indeed，wemeetwithsomenortheastgalesamongtheFaroeIslands。"
"Atallevents，therewillbenoveryconsiderabledelay，"criedtheimpatientProfessor。
"No，Mr。Hardwigg，"saidthecaptain，"nofearofthat。Atallevents，weshallgettheresomeday。"
TowardseveningtheschoonerdoubledCapeSkagen，thenorthernmostpartofDenmark，crossedtheSkagerrakduringthenight-skirtedtheextremepointofNorwaythroughthegutofCapeLindesnes，andthenreachedtheNorthernSeas。TwodayslaterwewerenotfarfromthecoastofScotland，somewherenearwhatDanishsailorscallPeterhead，andthentheValkyriestretchedoutdirectfortheFaroeIslands，betweenOrkneyandShetland。Ourvesselnowfeltthefullforceoftheoceanwaves，andthewindshifting，wewithgreatdifficultymadetheFaroeIsles。Ontheeighthday，thecaptainmadeoutMyganness，thewesternmostoftheisles，andfromthatmomentheadeddirectforPortland，acapeonthesouthernshoresofthesingularislandforwhichwewerebound。
Thevoyageofferednoincidentworthyofrecord。Iboreitverywell，butmyuncletohisgreatannoyance，andevenshame，wasremarkablyseasick!ThismaldemertroubledhimthemorethatitpreventedhimfromquestioningCaptainBjarneastothesubjectofSneffels，astothemeansofcommunication，andthefacilitiesoftransport。Alltheseexplanationshehadtoadjourntotheperiodofhisarrival。Histime，meanwhile，wasspentlyinginbedgroaning，anddwellinganxiouslyonthehoped-forterminationofthevoyage。I
didn'tpityhim。
OntheeleventhdaywesightedCapePortland，overwhichtoweredMountMyrdalsYokul，which，theweatherbeingclear，wemadeoutveryreadily。ThecapeitselfisnothingbutahugemountofgranitestandingnakedandalonetomeettheAtlanticwaves。TheValkyriekeptoffthecoast，steeringtothewestward。Onallsidesweretobeseenwhole"schools"ofwhalesandsharks。Aftersomehourswecameinsightofasolitaryrockintheocean，formingamightyvault，throughwhichthefoamingwavespouredwithintensefury。TheisletsofWestmanappearedtoleapfromtheocean，beingsolowinthewaterasscarcelytobeseenuntilyouwererightuponthem。FromthatmomenttheschoonerwassteeredtothewestwardinordertoroundCapeReykjanes，thewesternpointofIceland。
Myuncle，tohisgreatdisgust，wasunableeventocrawlondeck，soheavyaseawason，andthuslostthefirstviewoftheLandofPromise。Forty-eighthourslater，afterastormwhichdroveusfartoseaunderbarepoles，wecameoncemoreinsightofland，andwereboardedbyapilot，who，afterthreehoursofdangerousnavigation，broughttheschoonersafelytoananchorinthebayofFaxabeforeReykjavik。
Myunclecameoutofhiscabinpale，haggard，thin，butfullofenthusiasm，hiseyesdilatedwithpleasureandsatisfaction。Nearlythewholepopulationofthetownwasonfoottoseeusland。Thefactwas，thatscarcelyanyoneofthembutexpectedsomegoodsbytheperiodicalvessel。
ProfessorHardwiggwasinhastetoleavehisprison，orratherashecalledit，hishospital；butbeforeheattemptedtodoso，hecaughtholdofmyhand，ledmetothequarterdeckoftheschooner，tookmyarmwithhislefthand，andpointedinlandwithhisright，overthenorthernpartofthebay，towhereroseahightwo-peakedmountain-
adoubleconecoveredwitheternalsnow。
"Beholdhewhisperedinanawe-strickenvoice，behold-MountSneffels!"
Thenwithoutfurtherremark，heputhisfingertohislips，frowneddarkly，anddescendedintothesmallboatwhichawaitedus。
Ifollowed，andinafewminuteswestooduponthesoilofmysteriousIceland!
Scarcelywerewefairlyonshorewhenthereappearedbeforeusamanofexcellentappearance，wearingthecostumeofamilitaryofficer。Hewas，however，butacivilservant，amagistrate，thegovernoroftheisland-BaronTrampe。TheProfessorknewwhomhehadtodealwith。
HethereforehandedhimthelettersfromCopenhagen，andabriefconversationinDanishfollowed，towhichIofcoursewasastranger，andforaverygoodreason，forIdidnotknowthelanguageinwhichtheyconversed。Iafterwardsheard，however，thatBaronTrampeplacedhimselfentirelyatthebeckandcallofProfessorHardwigg。
MyunclewasmostgraciouslyreceivedbyM。Finsen，themayor，whoasfarascostumewent，wasquiteasmilitaryasthegovernor，butalsofromcharacterandoccupationquiteaspacific。Asforhiscoadjutor，M。Pictursson，hewasabsentonanepiscopalvisittothenorthernportionofthediocese。Wewerethereforecompelledtodeferthepleasureofbeingpresentedtohim。Hisabsencewas，however，morethancompensatedbythepresenceofM。Fridriksson，professorofnaturalscienceinthecollegeofReykjavik，amanofinvaluableability。ThismodestscholarspokenolanguagessaveIcelandicandLatin。When，therefore，headdressedhimselftomeinthelanguageofHorace，weatoncecametounderstandoneanother。
Hewas，infact，theonlypersonthatIdidthoroughlyunderstandduringthewholeperiodofmyresidenceinthisbenightedisland。
Outofthreeroomsofwhichhishousewascomposed，twowereplacedatourservice，andinafewhourswewereinstalledwithallourbaggage，theamountofwhichratherastonishedthesimpleinhabitantsofReykjavik。
"Now，Harry，"saidmyuncle，rubbinghishands，"angoeswell，theworsedifficultyisnowover。"
"Howtheworsedifficultyover?"Icriedinfreshamazement。
"Doubtless。HereweareinIceland。Nothingmoreremainsbuttodescendintothebowelsoftheearth。"
"Well，sir，toacertainextentyouareright。Wehaveonlytogodown-but，asfarasIamconcerned，thatisnotthequestion。I
wanttoknowhowwearetogetupagain。"
"Thatistheleastpartofthebusiness，anddoesnotinanywaytroubleme。Inthemeantime，thereisnotanhourtolose。Iamabouttovisitthepubliclibrary。VerylikelyImayfindtheresomemanuscriptsfromthehandofSaknussemm。Ishallbegladtoconsultthem。"
"Inthemeanwhile，"Ireplied，"Iwilltakeawalkthroughthetown。
Willyounotlikewisedoso?"
"Ifeelnointerestinthesubject，"saidmyuncle。"Whatformeiscuriousinthisisland，isnotwhatisabovethesurface，butwhatisbelow。"
Ibowedbywayofreply，putonmyhatandfurredcloak，andwentout。
ItwasnotaneasymattertoloseoneselfinthetwostreetsofReykjavik；Ihadthereforenoneedtoaskmyway。Thetownliesonaflatandmarshyplain，betweentwohills。Avastfieldoflavaskirtsitononeside，fallingawayinterracestowardsthesea。OntheotherhandisthelargebayofFaxa，borderedonthenorthbytheenormousglacierofSneffels，andinwhichbaytheValkyriewasthentheonlyvesselatanchor。GenerallytherewereoneortwoEnglishorFrenchgunboats，towatchandprotectthefisheriesintheoffing。Theywerenow，however，absentonduty。
ThelongestofthestreetsofReykjavikrunsparalleltotheshore。Inthisstreetthemerchantsandtradersliveinwoodenhutsmadewithbeamsofwood，paintedred-mereloghuts，suchasyoufindinthewildsofAmerica。Theotherstreet，situatedmoretothewest，runstowardalittlelakebetweentheresidencesofthebishopandtheotherpersonagesnotengagedincommerce。
IhadsoonseenallIwantedofthesewearyanddismalthoroughfares。Hereandtherewasastripofdiscoloredturf，likeanoldworn-outbitofwoolencarpet；andnowandthenabitofkitchengarden，inwhichgrewpotatoes，cabbage，andlettuce，almostdiminutiveenoughtosuggesttheideaofLilliput。
Inthecenterofthenewcommercialstreet，Ifoundthepubliccemetery，enclosedbyanearthenwall。Thoughnotverylarge，itappearednotlikelytobefilledforcenturies。FromhenceIwenttothehouseoftheGovernor-amerehutincomparisonwiththeMansionHouseofHamburg-butapalacealongsidetheotherIcelandichouses。
Betweenthelittlelakeandthetownwasthechurch，builtinsimpleProtestantstyle，andcomposedofcalcinedstones，thrownupbyvolcanicaction。Ihavenottheslightestdoubtthatinhighwindsitsredtileswereblownout，tothegreatannoyanceofthepastorandcongregation。Uponaneminencecloseathandwasthenationalschool，inwhichweretaughtHebrew，English，French，andDanish。
Inthreehoursmytourwascomplete。Thegeneralimpressionuponmymindwassadness。Notrees，novegetation，sotospeak-onallsidesvolcanicpeaks-thehutsofturfandearth-morelikeroofsthanhouses。Thankstotheheatoftheseresidences，grassgrowsontheroof，whichgrassiscarefullycutforhay。Isawbutfewinhabitantsduringmyexcursion，butImetacrowdonthebeach，drying，saltingandloadingcodfish，theprincipalarticleofexportation。Themenappearedrobustbutheavy；fair-hairedlikeGermans，butofpensivemien-exilesofahigherscaleintheladderofhumanitythantheEskimos，but，Ithought，muchmoreunhappy，sincewithsuperiorperceptionstheyarecompelledtolivewithinthelimitsofthePolarCircle。
Sometimestheygaveventtoaconvulsivelaugh，butbynochancedidtheysmile。Theircostumeconsistsofacoarsecapoteofblackwool，knowninScandinaviancountriesasthe"vadmel，"abroad-brimmedhat，trousersofredserge，andapieceofleathertiedwithstringsforashoe-acoarsekindofmoccasin。Thewomen，thoughsad-lookingandmournful，hadratheragreeablefeatures，withoutmuchexpression。Theywearabodiceandpetticoatofsombervadmel。Whenunmarriedtheywearalittlebrownknittedcapoveracrownofplaitedhair；butwhenmarried，theycovertheirheadswithacoloredhandkerchief，overwhichtheytieawhitescarf。
CHAPTER7
ConversationandDiscoveryWHENIreturned，dinnerwasready。Thismealwasdevouredbymyworthyrelativewithavidityandvoracity。Hisshipboarddiethadturnedhisinteriorintoaperfectgulf。Therepast，whichwasmoreDanishthanIcelandic，wasinitselfnothing，buttheexcessivehospitalityofourhostmadeusenjoyitdoubly。